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Grandpa!” cried Ralph. “You shall not shoot, I say 






THr \IBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

T VO COP»fc« Rectiveo 

AUG. 4 1902 


Co*»v^iomt entry 


CLASS 


. 1 ^. 0 

O/ XXo No. 


2 ) E g 3 0 

COPY B. 


Copyright, 1902, 

BY 

THK SAAI<FIELD PUBI^ISHING COMPANY 


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MADE BY 

THE WERNER COMPANY 

AKRON, OHIO 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

“Grandpa !” cried Ralph. “You shall not shoot, I 

say ! ” Frontispiece 

“ Mr. Duff," said Gary in his most grating tones, “ who 
gave you the authority to interfere with my designs 
regarding this insolent youngster?" i6o 

Ralph’s Winchester cracked and the raised arm fell 
shattered and useless 


“Quick, Ralph, pull me through by the arms" 


203 

278 



Ralph Granger’s Fortunes 


OHAPTEK I. 

Ending the Feud. 

“Must I do it, grandpa?” 

“Of course you must! I’m afraid you ain’t 
a true Granger, Ralph, or you wouldn’t ask no 
such question.” 

“But why should I do it, grandpa?” 

“Listen at the boy.” 

The sharp-eyed, grizzled old man rose from 
his seat before the fire, and took down an an- 
cient looking, muzzle loading rifle from over 
the cabin door. 

“I’ll tell you why.” 

He patted the gun, now lying across his 
knees. 

“This here was your father’s gun. He car- 
ried it for many years. I had it when the feud 
betwixt the Grangers and the Vaughns first 


5 


6 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


began. He had it with him when he was shot 
down at the Laurel Branch by John Vaughn, 
just six years ago today.” 

“Today is my birthday,” commented Ralph, 
a sturdy-limbed, ruddy-faced lad. 

“And you are fifteen. Think of that; ’most 
a man. I said I’d wait till you was fifteen, and 
as it happens, his son’s a goin’ to mill today.” 

“What of that?” 

“You just wait and you’ll see. All you’ve 
got to do is to obey orders.” 

The old man got up, took down a leather 
shot pouch, and proceeded to load the rifie 
carefully. After which he slung the pouch and 
a powder horn round Ralph’s neck, then went 
out and looked at the sun. 

He returned, placed the rifle in the lad’s 
hands, and bade him follow. Taking their 
hats they went out of the house. 

Steep mountain ridges cut off any extended 
view. An old field or two lay about them, 
partially in the narrow creek bottom and parti- 
ally climbing the last rugged slopes. 

There was a foot log across the little brawl- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


7 


ing brook, beyond which the public road 
wound deviously down the glen towards the 
far distant lowlands. 

Ralph eyed the unusually stern expression 
of his grandfather’s face dubiously as they 
trudged along the road. 

Bras Granger was all of sixty-five years old, 
dried and toughened by toil, exposure, and 
vindictive broodings, until he resembled a 
cross-grained bit of time-hardened oak. His 
gait, though shambling, was rapid for one of 
his age. 

“You said you’d tell me why,!’ suggested 
Ralph, as they wound their way along the 
crooked road. 

“Didn’t I say that the son of the man as 
killed your father was cornin’ by the Laurel 
Branch this mornin’? Haven’t the Vaughns 
and the Grangers been at outs for more than 
twenty year? What more d’ye want?” 

The boy frowned, but it was in perplexity 
rather than wrath. 

They came at last to a wooded hollow, 
through which another creek ran, thickly 


8 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


shaded by thick overhanging shrubbery. The 
old man led the way to a half decayed log of 
immense size, that lay behind a thick fringe 
of bushes, at an angle just beyond where the 
road crossed the creek. 

It was a deadly spot for an ambuscade. 

“Lay down behind that log,” said old 
Granger. “Now, can you draw a good bead on 
him when he comes in sight?” 

Young Granger squinted along the rifle bar- 
rel, now resting across the log. Though appar- 
ently concealed himself, he had a fair view of 
the road for sixty yards in both directions. 
Where it entered the brook it was barely thirty 
feet away. 

“Take him right forninst the left shoulder, 
’bout the time his mule crosses the creek; then 
your poor father’ll rest easy in his grave.” 

“Why ain’t you killed him afore?” demanded 
Ralph. 

“My hand hasn’t been steady these nine 
year; not since them Vaughns burned our 
house down the night your grandmother died. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


9 


It was cold and snowin’, and bein’ out in it was 
more’n she could stand.” 

“I remember,” said the boy gloomily. “But 
that was a long time ago. I can’t stay mad 
nine year.” 

“I’m madder now than I was then!” almost 
shouted the infuriated mountaineer. “After 
they got your pap, I ’lowed I’d wait ’twel you 
was fifteen. Then you’d be big enough to know 
how sweet revenge is. Heap sweeter than 
sugar, ain’t it?” 

“Hark?” interjected Ralph, without reply- 
ing. “Some one is cornin’ up the road.” 

A trample of hoofs became audible, and 
presently a man mounted on a mule, with a 
sack of corn under him, was to be seen ap- 
, preaching the ambuscade. 

Seated before him was a child of perhaps 
four or five, who laughed and prattled to the 
man’s evident delight. Old Granger’s eyes 
shown with a ferocious joy. 

“That’s him!” he exclaimed in tremulously 
eager tones. “He’s got his brat along. I wish 
ye could get ’em both, then there’d be an end 


10 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


of the miserable brood for one while. Wait, 
boy — wait ’twel he gets to the creek afore ye 
shoot. Think of your poor pap, when ye draw 
bead.” 

But Ralph’s face did not betoken any 
kindred enthusiasm. He was tired to death 
of hearing about the everlasting feud between 
the families. 

If the Vaughns had fought the Grangers, it 
was equally certain that the Grangers had 
been no whit behind in sanguinary reprisals. 
He remembered seeing this same Jase 
Vaughn, now riding unsuspectingly toward 
the loaded rifle, at a corn shucking once. Ralph 
then thought him a very jolly, amusing fellow. 

“Now lad — now lad!” whispered the old 
man. “Get down and take your sight. I’ve 
seen ye shoot the heads offn squirrels. Just 
imagine that feller’s head is a squirrel’s. As 
for the child ” 

“Grandpa, I will not shoot. It would be 
murder. I’ll meet him fair and square, though, 
and if he’s sorry for what his father done. I’ll 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


11 


let it pass. He couldn’t help it anyhow, if he 
wanted to, I reckon.” 

To the old man’s intense disgust, Ralph 
leaped lightly over the log and advanced into 
the road, rifle in hand. His grandfather fol- 
lowed him, raving in his futile rage. 

^‘Hello!” exclaimed Jase Vaughn, thrusting 
his hand behind him quickly. “Here’s old 
Granger and his son’s kid. I wish you was at 
home, Clelly.” 

This last to his boy who, not at all alarmed, 
was smiling at Ralph in a very friendly man- 
ner. 

When the lad saw Jase throw back his hand, 
he dropped his rifle into the hollow of his left 
arm and brought the trigger to a half cock, ad- 
vancing at the same time squarely into the 
middle of the road. 

“Grandpa tells me that you are the son of 
the man who shot my father, here, just six 
years ago,” began the boy. “I knew it myself, 
but I didn’t ’low you was to blame, ’less you 
uphilt him in it.” 

“Suppose I do; what then?” Jase eyed the 


12 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


two Grangers steadily, though not in anger as 
far as Ealph could see. 

“Then we’ll settle it right here,” said the 
latter firmly. “I could have shot you from the 
bushes, as your father did mine, but I 
wouldn’t.” 

“The more fool you!” hissed the vindictive 
old man. “I ought to have kept the gun my- 
self.” 

“Suppose I don’t uphold the deed?” added 
Vaughn, still totally undisturbed. 

“Then you can go, for all of me. I’m sick of 
the feud.” 

“Shake my boy!” Jase held out a large 
brown paw. “So am I. If I could ’a’ had my 
way your pap never would a been killed.” 

Ralph hesitated an instant, when suddenly 
little Clelly reached forth his small, chubby 
fingers, and the boy surrendered. He suffered 
Vaughn to shake his hand, then frankly took 
the child’s and pressed it warmly. 

“I like ’oo,” cried the little fellow, whereat 
Jase gave a great horse laugh of undisguised 
satisfaction. 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


13 


“These young uns has got more sense than 
all of us older fools,” exclaimed the gratified 
father. “Ain’t that so, old man?” he added, 
looking at the elder Granger. 

But the face of Ralph’s grandfather became 
convulsed with a sudden fury. He rushed upon 
Ralph with a celerity unlooked for in one so 
old, and wrenched the rifle from the boy’s 
hands. 

Then he turned upon Jase Vaughn who had 
witnessed this action in astonishment. 

“Now,” shouted old Granger, “reckon I’ll get 
even for the loss of my son. Here’s at ye!” 

“Grandpa!” cried Ralph, springing between 
the old man and his intended victim. “You 
shall not shoot, I say!” 

“Out of my way, you renegade,” retorted the 
other leveling his gun. 

As the cap snapped, Ralph struck up the 
barrel, and was rewarded by a furious impre- 
cation from the aged but relentless relative. 


CHAPTER II 


Ralph and His Grandfather. 

Meanwhile Jase Vaughn sat on his mule 
looking quietly on, as if he were entirely un- 
concerned in the result of the struggle be- 
tween Ralph and his grandfather. 

Old Granger, finding himself baffled, flung 
down the rifle upon the ground and strode off 
up the road, muttering wildly to himself like 
one demented. 

“Hold on, grandpa!” shouted Ralph, picking 
up the gun. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” 

But the old man heeded not, and soon dis- 
appeared round a bend of the road in the direc- 
tion of his home. 

“He’s too old to change,” said Jase. “But I 
really don’t see any reason why you and me 
should keep up this foolishness. If my father 
shot yourn, thar was a cousin of your father’s 
fought a duel with my dad ’way down in 


14 


RALPH GRANGER’S. FORTUNES. 


15 


Georgy. Both on ’em were hurt so bad they 
never walked again.” 

“We heard of it,” returned Ralph, “and I 
couldn’t help thinking at the time what fools 
our families were to keep up a feud started, I 
reckon, by our great grandfathers.” 

“Right, you are, young feller. Hit all come 
of doggin’ hogs outn a sweet tater patch; so 
I’ve heard.” 

“Then there was a row, I reckon.” 

“Yes. One word brought on another, till at 
last some one got hurt, then the shootin’ be- 
gun. I never did take much to the business 
myself, but somehow I didn’t have the energy 
to set the thing straight. I’m powerful glad 
ye done what ye have done today, and I passes 
you my word that Jase Vaughn has done with 
the feud as well as you.” 

This time it was Ralph’s turn to offer his 
hand. After another hearty shake little Clell 
threw himself upon the lad’s neck with child- 
ish abandon. 

“I like ’oo!” he cried again. 

“Well, I swow!” exclaimed Jase. “He’s 


16 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


takin’ a plum likin’ to you. But we must be 
gettin’ on. If ever I can do anything for you, 
don’t ’low my bein’ a Vaughn keep you from 
lettin’ me know.” 

Then Jase clucked to his mule and rode 
away, with little Clell craning his neck to 
catch a last glimpse of Ralph, who, shoulder- 
ing his rifle, began to retrace his steps towards 
home. 

As he proceeded his face grew grave. How 
would his incensed relative receive him? 

Since the grandmother’s and his father’s 
death Ralph and the old man had lived princi- 
pally by themselves. The boy’s own mother 
had died when he was a baby. Now and then 
some woman would be hired to do some house- 
work, usually the wife or daughter of some 
tenant to whom Bras Granger rented a portion 
of his land. But they seldom remained long, 
and Ralph had, perforce, to take their place 
from time to time. 

He grew as expert at cooking and other sim- 
ple household duties as he was at shooting, 
trapping, and similar mountain accomplish- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


17 


ments. Thus the two had lived on together, 
with little outside society, relying mainly on 
themselves for diversion as well as support. 

The maintenance of the feud was the old 
man’s greatest wish. It was as meat and drink 
to his soul. 

When Ralph showed the indifference he 
often felt on that subject, his grandfather 
always flew into a rage. 

“To think that my only living descendant 
should go back on the family, is too much to 
bear,” he said. “There’s only nephews and 
cousins ’sides you, Ralph. They are scattered 
here and yonder; they ain’t a carin’ much 
about the family honor. Hit all depends on 
you, boy. I wonder your pap’s ghost ain’t a 
haantin’ you for bein’ so careless.” 

Then Ralph would vaguely promise to do 
better, and the subject would be dropped, only 
to crop up again whenever the old man felt 
more savagely inclined than usual. Today, 
however, was the flrst time that the two had 
come to an open and violent rupture. 

When the boy came in sight of the cabin he 


18 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


beheld his grandparent seated in the doorway 
absorbed, apparently in deep reflection. 

Ralph crossed the foot log, opened the gate 
and walked up to the door. 

“I am sorry I displeased you today,” he be- 
gan, “but I just couldn’t do what you wanted 
me to do ” 

“Shet your mouth!” interrupted Granger 
harshly. “You are a disgrace to your kin. I 
never would a believed it if my eyes hadn’t a 
seen and my ears a heard. You are no longer 
a grandson of mine. D’ye hear?” 

Ralph’s perplexed and distressed look 
seemed to again infuriate the old man. 

“Pack up your traps and get outn here!” he 
raged, brandishing his walking stick. “My 
house is no longer a home for such as you.” 

“Wh — where shall I go?” asked Ralph, still 
dazed over this astounding outcome of the 
Vaughn incident. 

“Mebbe you’d better go over to Jase 
Vaughn’s,” sneered old Granger. “His father 
killed yourn, but you don’t care for such a lit- 
tle thing as that.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


19 


“Grandpa,” cried Ralph, stung to indigna- 
tion at last,” “it is cruel of you to treat me so, 
simply because I wouldn’t commit murder. 
Yes — murder. I say it would have been mur- 
der! I’m no coward; and it is cowardly to 
shoot down a man and him not knowing.” 

“You reprobate!” gasped the obdurate old 
mountaineer. “I’ve a notion to thrash you — 
right here.” 

He again shook his , cane and glared his 
hatred of Ralph’s conduct. But the boy only 
said: 

“I’d rather you beat me than do what I 
always would be miserable over. Let’s drop 
it, grandpa.” 

He passed into the cabin and observed a 
small pile of clothing on the floor. 

“There’s your duds, boy,” said Bras Granger 
grimly. “Pick ’em up and pull your freight 
outn here.” 

Ralph surveyed the old man curiously; but 
as he noted the latter’s stern, unyielding 
aspect he said no more until he had rolled up 
a clean shirt and a pair of socks. A tear or 


20 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


two fell as he tied the bundle in a large hand- 
kerchief. 

“Am I to take the gun?” asked he, gulping 
down his emotion as best he could. 

“No!” almost shouted the old man. “What 
business you got with a gun? Come now; are 
you ready?” 

Ralph nodded; his heart was too full to 
speak. 

The old man stood aside and pointed to the 
door. Ralph held out his hand. 

“Good by,” he managed to falter forth. 
“May God forgive you for turnin’ me out this 
day.” 

He passed through the yard, feeling for the 
gate, for his eyes were dim with moisture. 
Crossing the foot log, he walked on until he 
came to a rise of ground just where the road 
made a sudden turn. 

Then he wheeled, dashed the tears away, 
and took a last look at the place where he was 
born and had always lived. 

Shut in by wild and rugged mountains, far 
from the world’s great life, humble and 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


21 


homely, it was still the only place on earth 
where the orphaned lad had felt that he had 
any natural right to be. And now, even this 
slender thread had been rudely severed by his 
nearest living relative. 

“Good-by, old home,” said he audibly, as he 
waved his hand in a farewell gesture. “I hate 
to leave you when it comes to the pinch, but if 
I live I’ll make my way somewhere’s else. 
There’s other places beside these mountains 
where a boy can get on, I know.” 

He resumed his way, forcing back the tears, 
and soon found his emotions subside. 

A conviction that he had acted right 
throughout the altercation with old Bras, 
helped him to bear more cheerfully the hard 
fact that he was not only homeless but almost 
moneyless. This last misfortune did not press 
on him heavily, as in that secluded region peo- 
ple were universally hospitable. Ralph had 
never paid for a meal or a night’s lodging in 
his life. 

As he happened to take an easterly course 
he kept it merely because it would lead him to 


22 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the lowlands and the towns as quickly as any 
other route. 

He had at once resolved to leave his native 
mountains. Inexperienced as he was, he in- 
stinctively felt that there were better things 
in store for an energetic lad in other parts of 
the country than he would be apt to find any- 
where near his home. ■ 

He struck a lively pace and had walked 
nearly a mile, with his bundle under his arm, 
when he met Jase Vaughn returning from the 
mill. 

“Hello, youngster!” quoth that worthy man 
as cordially as if Ralph and himself had been 
warm friends all along. “Where you carryin’ 
yourself to? Old man got in good humor yet?” 

“He has turned me out, lock, stock, and 

\ 

barrel,” replied the boy, swallowing his pride 
in this humiliating confession. 

“W-h-a-a-t?” ejaculated Jase thoroughly 
amazed, while Clell smiled at Ralph in a most 
amiable manner. 

“Grandpa was so provoked because I de- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


23 


dined to obey him,” said Ralph, “that he told 
me to pack up and get out.” 

“For good and all?” 

“Yes, for good. At least I sh’an’t go back 
any more — unless — he was to send for me.” 

“Bully for you ! I wouldn’t either. Give you 
the shake ’cause you wouldn’t let him put a 
bullet hole through me! Well, I swow!” 

Jase stared at Ralph in mingled admiration 
and compassion. 

“The dadburned old fool!” he continued. 
“’Scuse me, Ralph, no reflections on your 
fambly, but hit kind o’ teches my feelin’s to 
see you flred in this shape, long o’ your actin’ 
the gentleman with me. Where be you goin’?” 

“Somewhere’s down below; I don’t know ex- 
actly where.” 

“Got any money?” 

“A little. I’m going to hunt work; then I’ll 
soon make more. I sha’n’t stay in the moun 
tains.” 

Jase drew forth a greasy leather wallet and 
extracted a five dollar bill, which he eyed re- 
flectively as if forcing himself to make up his 


24 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


mind, then suddenly handed it to Ralph, who 
thanked him but shook his head. 

“Dang it! Let me loan it to you then. 
Didn’t you as good as save my life? Look, Clell 
wants you to take it, don’t you, Clell?” 

The little fellow laughed, seized the bill 
from his father’s hand, and tossed it towards 
Ralph, saying: 

“Take it; take it. I like ’oo, Walph.” 

Ralph felt another rising in his throat as he 
stooped to pick up the note; but he could not 
bring himself to the point of accepting so great 
a favor from one of the Vaughns. 

“I — I really don’t need it,” said he. “Hold 
on! Jase! Do hold up a minute.” 

“Can’t, old feller,” called back Jase, who had 
suddenly spurred his mule into a trot when he 
saw the note in Ralph’s hand “Pay me when 
you get back, if you’d rather.” 

“But I say! I can’t keep this money ” 

“Good by,” came floating back on the breeze. 
“I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no money. Take 
good care of yourself.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


25 


Then Jase, boy, and mule, whipped round a 
crook of the road and were seen no more. 

Ralph’s first impulse was to throw the bill 
away. But sober second thoughts prevailed, 
and somewhat reluctantly he placed it with 
the rest of his slender stock of cash. 

“Jase means well,” thought he, resuming his 
tramp. “I don’t know that either of us are to 
blame ’cause our families have been at outs 
for so long. When I get to making something 
I’ll send it back.” 

All that day Ralph trudged manfully on. At 
times grief would be uppermost in his heart 
when he thought of the way in which his 
grandfather had treated him. 

Once, as he passed a cabin where a boy of 
about his own age stood washing his hands on 
the porch, and he caught a glimpse of a cheer- 
ful interior, with dinner smoking on the table, 
he felt very homesick. He wished he was 
back, preparing his grandpa’s noonday meal. 

As he did not feel hungry he did not stop 
anywhere until about sunset, when he walked 
up to a double penned house that looked 


26 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


roomy and hospitable. Several dogs ran out 
barking. 

“Here, you Boss! Git out’n thar, Louder! 
Pick up a stick and frail the nation outn ’em, 
boy.” 

A tall, shock headed, awkward man had 
come onto the porch and was making these re- 
marks with great vigor bnt entire good nature. 
The dogs subsided, and Ralph ran lightly np 
the steps. 

“Come in. Take a chair by the fire. What 
mought your name be these hard times?” 

“I’m Ralph Granger, from over abont Hia- 
wassee Gap.” 

“Son of old Bras?” 

Ralph assented, when the shock headed 
man called to his wife, who was sifting meal 
for the supper: 

“Tildy this must be one of your kin folks.” 
Then, turning to Ralph, “My wife was a 
Granger; one of the Gregory branch. Well, 
tell us all about yourself. Don’t mind the chil- 
dren, they always are in the way, anyhow.” 

Ralph, finding that he was among friends, 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


27 


related briefly the events of the day and wound 
up by again expressing his detestation of the 
feud. Mr. Dopples, for that was the shock 
headed man’s name, nodded approval. 

“We mountain folks live too much outn the 
world,” said he. “What you goin’ to do?” 

“Anything honest, to make a living. I’m 
not going to stay in these parts though.” 

“If you’ve any notion of goin’ down about 
Columbia, I can direct you to a friend of mine 
as lives there. Comes up here every summer to 
fish and hunt. Got lots of coin, and is always 
wantin’ me to go down there and take a regu- 
lar town spree with him. Oh he’s a sight!” 

“What is his name? I don’t suppose he 
would care anything about me. He never 
heard of me, anyhow.” 

“Name is Captain Shard; he keeps a big liv- 
ery stable. You just tell him you’re a friend of 
mine, and I’ll bet my steers agin a coon skin 
you’re at home straight.” 

Soon after supper Ralph was shown to his 
bed in a shed room at the rear of the house. 


28 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


In the mountains the people go to bed and rise 
early from habit. 

Before eight o’clock a sound of heavy 
breathing could be heard from every room. 
Under the floor the very dogs were steeped in 
dreams of coon and ’possum hunting. 

Suddenly Ralph awoke, feeling a pressure 
on his chest. The room was not so dark but 
that he could detect a shadowy figure at the 
bedside. 

A prickly chill ran through his veins, but be- 
fore he could speak, a voice whispered : 

“Give me your hand,” and as the boy dazely 
obeyed, the pressure on his chest was removed 
as another hand was lifted from there, that 
firmly grasped his own. 

“I can feel your pulse jump; you’re skeered, 
Ralph.” 

“Wh — who are — ^you?” faltered Ralph, un- 
able to make out as yet whether it was a 
“haant” or a living person that had awakened 
him thus. 

“Don’t know me?” There was a titter of 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


29 


nearly noiseless laughter. “Felt me pressin’ 
your chist, didn’t you?” 

“Yes. At first I thought I must be stifiin’, 
but ” 

“If you want to wake a person ’thout 
speakin’, you press on their chist. Hit always 
fetches ’em. Don’t you know me yet?” 

Ralph murmured a low negative. 

“Well, then, I’ll tell you I’m ” 

A sound of feet striking the fioor heavily 
was heard from one of the other rooms, and 
was followed by the voice of Mr. Dopples, call- 
ing out: 

“Tildy! Oh, Tildy! Where be ye, Tildy?” 


CHAPTER III. 


Ralph Continues His Journey. 

The form at Ralph’s bedside grasped his 
hand again in a warning pressure. 

‘‘Keep quiet,” it said. “I’m your Aunt Tildy. 
I have something to say to you by and by.” 

The figure vanished, and presently the lad 
heard his aunt say: 

“What are you fussin’ about, Mr. Dopples? 
Can’t a'body stir ’thout you havin’ a fit?” 

“I only wanted to know where ye were,” was 
the shock headed man’s reply. “What are 
progin’ round this time o’ night for?” 

“Cause I want to. Now shet up and go to 
sleep.” 

While Ralph was wondering what on earth 
his aunt, whom he had never seen before, could 
want to say to him at such an hour, the talking 
in the other room died away, and was suc- 
ceeded soon by a resonant snoring, that de- 
30 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


31 


noted Mr. Dopples’ prompt obedience to his 
wife’s last command. 

Shortly thereafter she swept softly into the 
boy’s room, wrapped in a shawl and seated her- 
self at his side. 

“Are you awake?” she said in a whisper. 

Kalph said, “Yes;” and propped himself in a 
listening attitude. 

“You think strange, I reckon, at my cornin’ 
to you in this way,” she began. “You’ve never 
seen and hardly ever heard of us before. But 
when I learned the way your grandpap have 
treated you, I felt sorry, and I want to help 
you what little I can.” 

“I’m mightily obliged, aunt,” replied Ealph, 
still puzzled how to connect this friendly wish 
with the object of such a visit as she was mak- 
ing tonight. 

“Hit was a brother of mine as fought that 
fight with John Vaughn. I used to believe in 
the feud, but I don’t now. It’s a wicked thing 
to seek people’s lives. Both sides have suf- 
fered enough, Ralph, and I say let there be 
peace.” 


32 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Amen,” muttered the lad heartily. 

“But what I wanted to let you know was 
about this Captain Shard, as Dopples wants 
you to go and. see. My man never quarrels with 
nobody — bless his old soul! Therefore, he 
never ’spicious that any of his friends would 
want to, either. There’s where he is wrong.” 

“Yes; but I don’t see how that can apply to 
Captain Shard, whom I never heard of before.” 

“I know you don’t, but I do. Captain Shard’s 
mother was a Vaughn. Now, do you see?” 

“Good gracious! But it seems to me as if 
that don’t amount to much. Why should this 
man want to hurt me?” 

“Hold on. This man Shard’s mother was 
sister to the Vaughn who killed your father, 
and whom my brother had fought on account 
of it. Don’t you see? When Shard learns who 
you are, his Vaughn blood is more than apt to 
prompt him to do you some harm.” 

“They don’t shoot people in the town the 
way we do in the mountains, aunt. I’ve read 
that the law is too strong for that.” 

“There’s other ways of hurtin’ a poor boy 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


83 


’sides takin’ a gun to him. If he chose, he 
might harm you in other ways. I’ve heard it 
said that folks with plenty of money can do 
’most anything in the city.” 

“Well, aunt, I’m much obliged to you for 
letting me know. If I strike Columbia, and 
meet up with Captain Shard, I shall certainly 
remember what you say.” 

“Good night, then. Don’t tell Dopples what 
I’ve said. He’s a thinkin’ the world of Shard. 
I like him, too; but then he don’t know I’m a 
Granger, I reckon.” 

After Mrs. Dopples retired, Ralph soon fell 
asleep. When he wakened again daylight was 
at hand, and Mr. Dopples was kindling a fire. 

Breakfast came early, then Ralph bade his 
kindly friends farewell, and resumed his 
journey as the sun was peeping over the east- 
erly summits of the Blue Ridge. 

“Don’t forget to see Shard,” called the shock 
headed man, as the boy reached the public 
road. “He’ll help you out.” 

“I may see Shard,” thought Ralph; “but I’ll 

be careful how he sees me. I’m going to get 
3 


34 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


out of the range of this feud if 1 have to travel 
clear to the seacoast.’^ 

As he had a lunch along — given him by Mrs. 
Dopples — he did not stop anywhere for dinner, 
but trudged resolutely on at a three mile an 
hour gait. 

His young limbs, hardened by constant 
mountain climbing, did not tire readily, while 
his experience of traveling enabled him to 
keep the general course he wished to go, not- 
withstanding the branch trails and the many 
windings caused by the ruggedness of the 
country. 

The latter portion of the afternoon was oc- 
cupied in climbing a long mountain range that 
overtopped most of the others in sight. The 
sun was nearly setting as he reached the sum- 
mit; then he uttered an exclamation of aston- 
ishment. 

Behind him was a confused jumble of peaks 
and ridges as far as the eye could reach. It 
was the region he had left — his own native 
wilds. 

j. Before him stretched an undulating pan- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


35 


orama of plain, valley, and gentle hills. There 
were patches of woodland, great plantations 
with here and there variegated spots that 
Ralph supposed to be villages. 

It was his first view of the level country be- 
yond the Blue Ridge, and he surveyed it with 
intense interest. 

“They say it stretches that way clear to the 
seacoast,” he said to himself as he began to de- 
scend the mountain. “I don’t see how they can 
see any distance with no big ridges to look off 
from.” 

This idea — otherwise laughable — was per- 
fectly natural to a lad who had never seen any- 
thing but wild and rugged mountains in his 
life. 

He quickened his pace, wishing to get down 
into the region of farms and houses before 
darkness should come. A rising cloud in the 
southeast also occasioned him some concern. 

“Looks mighty like there might be rain in 
that cloud,” he thought. “I’ve got matches, 
but I’d hate to have to spend a wet night out 
in these woods.” 


36 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


The sun went down and the black south- 
easterly haze came up, with semi-tropical 
celerity. Ralph was still in the lonely region 
of forest and crag, when a whirl of wind struck 
him in the face and a few drops spattered on 
the leaves of the chestnuts around. 

The brief southern twilight was blotted out 
almost at once by the overspreading clouds, 
and young Granger became conscious that he 
had somehow missed the trail. 

“That is odd,” he muttered. “It was just 
here a minute ago.” 

Something like a yellow gleam caught his 
eye, and he plunged along in its course in a 
reckless manner, for he was nervous with anxi- 
ety. 

Being in a strange region, with a storm on 
the point of breaking, was not pleasant even to 
older nerves, when added to the natural ter- 
rors of a night in the woods, without any other 
company than one’s brooding thoughts. 

“Hello! What’s this?” he exclaimed as he 
almost ran against an obstruction that looked 
not unlike a steep house roof. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


37 


The odor of tar and resin pervaded the air. 
Kalph groped his way around it, feeling here 
and there with his hands. 

“It’s a tar kiln, sure as preaching!” ejacu- 
lated he, at length. “There ought to be some 
kind of a shack about, looks like.” 

He was still searching, when the wind, 
which had been increasing, brought with it a 
sudden downpour of rain. Ralph was about to 
rush for a tree to shelter himself, when a flash 
of lightning lighted up the kiln and surround- 
ing objects with a pale, brief glare. 

“Ha — there she is!” exclaimed Ralph, dis- 
covering the object of his search. “I almost 
knew the man as put up this kiln must have 
had a shelter of some kind.” 

He made his way to a low, brush covered 
frame near by, arriving there just in time. The 
darkness was intense, except when cloven by 
the lightning, while the fall of rain was 
drenching and furious. 

The shack leaked some, but it was an im- 
mense improvement over a tree for shelter. 

“Let’s see where we are, anyhow,” said 


38 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


i\alph, producing some matches, one of which 
he struck. “Hello! There are some pine knots. 
Here’s luck at last.” 

In a few minutes he had a small fire blazing 
brightly, and felt more like contemplating his 
surroundings with cheerful equanimity. 

But as the rain increased, the leaks grew in 
number, threatening to put out the fire, and 
converting the earth fioor into a mushy mud 
puddle. 

“I can’t do any sleeping here,” thought he. 
“Might just as well make up my mind for a 
night of it round this fire.” 

By dint of careful watching he kept his fire 
from going entirely out, and managed to keep 
himself dry by picking out the spots where the 
leaks were fewest in which to stand. 

But it was a dreary, lonesome time. The 
wind whistled dolefully through the pines, and 
the rain splashed unmercifully upon the bark 
and boughs of the shack. 

After each fiash of lightning, sharp peals of 
thunder added their harsh echoes, until 
Ralph’s ears ached, used as he was to moun- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


39 


tain storms. The rain began to slacken in an 
hour, while the wind gradually dwindled to a 
light breeze. 

Still there was no chance to lie down, and 
the boy was growing sleepy. 

He had drooped his head between his knees 
as he sat on a pine block, and was dropping 
into a doze when he heard something stirring 
at the back of the shanty. He looked around 
in a drowsy way, but seeing nothing, he again 
fell into an uneasy slumber. 

How long his nap lasted he did not know, 
but all at once he nodded violently and awoke. 
The fire was low. Then a muffled rattling 
noise at his feet sent the blood in a furious leap 
to his pulses. 

He threw on a rich knot, and as it blazed up 
his eye fell on an object that caused him to 
spring up as if he had been stung. 

“Great Caesar!” he exclaimed, and as the 
rattle sounded once more, he made a long leap 
for the doorway. “ That was a narrow escape. 
S’pose I hadn’t a woke up?” 

Then he shuddered, but recovering, hunted 


40 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


up a cudgel and cautiously returned within 
the hut. 

There, within a few inches of where the lad’s 
feet had rested as he slept, was a large rattle- 
snake still in its coil and giving forth its omin- 
ous rattle. A dexterous blow or two finished 
the reptile, but the odor given forth by the 
creature in its anger filled the hut. 

“Pah!” ejaculated Ralph. “I must get out 
of here. The place would sicken a dog.” 

He returned to the open air, now freshened 
by the vanished rain, and found to his delight, 
that a moon several days old was visible in the 
west. The clouds had disappeared, and there 
seemed every prospect of a clear and quiet 
night. 

“It is light enough to see to travel if I can 
only find the road again,” he refiected. “Any- 
thing is better than staying here.” 

Taking the direction in which it seemed to 
him that the trail ought to be, he sought 
eagerly for the narrow strip of white that 
would indicate the wished for goal. Presently 
he heard a distant sound. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


41 


“It may be the deer a whistling,” thought 
he, listening intently. “But, no; that ain’t 
made by no deer. I believe — it’s — somebody 
a coming along.” 

Some distance to his left Ralph could now 
detect a connected sound as if a tune were be- 
ing whistled. In his eager desire for human 
companionship, he cast prudence completely 
aside and ran forward shouting: 

“Hold on! I’m coming. Hold on till I get 
there!” 


CHAPTER IV. 


The Moonshiners and the Railroad. 

The whistling stopped suddenly. Ralph kept 
on, however, in the direction where he had last 
heard the sounds, and presently distinguished 
two dim forms standing in an open space 
amid the trees, through which ran the white 
thread that indicated the lost trail. 

“I say,” began the lad, “are you fellows 
going down the mountain? If you are, I’d like 
to go with you. Fact is, I believe I’m lost.” 

“Halt, there, young feller!” was the reply, 
given in sharp, stern tones. “One step further 
and you’ll find half an ounce of lead under 
your skin, mebbe.” 

Ralph obeyed, somewhat puzzled and de- 
cidedly alarmed. The men — there were two of 
them — drew something over their faces, then 
ordered the boy to advance. 

He did so, and on drawing near saw that 
k- 


42 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


43 


they now wore masks, and had long sacks 
swung over their shoulders, with a load of 
some kind in either end. When he saw the 
masks and the bags Ralph understood at once 
what their business was. 

“Who are you?” demanded one of the men, 
and the lad could see that he held a pistol in 
one hand. “No lyin’, now!” 

“My name is Granger, and I’m from over on 
Hiawassee River way. Want to get down into 
the low country. Got lost; stayed in a shack 
while it rained, and — here I am.” 

“Be you a son of old Bras Granger?” 

“No; grandson.” 

The two whispered together a moment, then 
one of them said : 

“I reckon you’re all right, boy. ’Taint wuth 
while to ast our names, ’cause d’ye see — we 
wouldn’t tell.” 

“You’d be fools if you did,” returned Ralph, 
his self confidence now fully restored. “I ain’t 
a wanting to know who you are. I know al- 
ready what you are.” 

“How’s that?” came sharply back, and an 


44 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ominous click was heard, which, however, did 
not seem to alarm Ralph, 

“Moonshiners,” said the boy briefly. 
“Haven’t I been raised among ’em? I’ve got 
kin folks as stills regular, I’m sorry to say,” 
“Sorry! Ain’t it a good trade?” 

“Not when it lands you inside of some dirty 
jail. Besides, I don’t like the stuff, anyhow.” 
“No use to offer you a dram then?” 

“Not a bit. But I say, if you’ll let me go on 
with you till we get down where there’s some 
houses. I’ll think more of that than if you gave 
me a barrel of whisky.” 

“We’re on our way back. We’re goin’ up the 
mountain. But you foller this trail for about 
a mile, then take the first right hand turn. 
Follow that ’twel you come to an old field. 
T’other side of that you’ll find the mud pike as 
runs to Hendersonville. After that you’ll find 
houses thick enough. But where are you 
bound for after you get down there?” 

“Oh, anywhere most. I’m after work.” 
Ralph concluded that he had better not be 
more explicit with strangers. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


45 


The moonshiners soon grew quite friendly 
and seemed a little hurt over Ralph’s persist- 
ence in declining a drink. 

“I’m going out among strangers,” he said, 
“and I’ve got to keep my head. The best way 
to do that is to let the stuff entirely alone. 
Well, so long, men. I’m mighty glad I met up 
with you.” 

He struck out down the trail whistling mer- 
rily. Now that he was on the right road again, 
and with a clear night before him, he felt far 
more cheerful than before. 

He found the old field without difficulty, and 
not far beyond he struck the Hendersonville 
pike as the moonshiner had intimated. 

Here the country was more open. Large 
fields, interspersed with patches of woodland, 
were on either hand. Now and then he would 
pass a cabin, his approach being heralded by 
the barking of dogs. 

Once or twice large buildings came into 
view. These were the residences of the more 
wealthy class of planters. Even in the dim 
starlight, Ralph saw that they were larger 


46 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


than the log dwellings he was accustomed to. 

Finally the moon went down. He would 
have stopped at some house and asked for 
shelter, but the hour was so late that he 
shrank from disturbing strangers. The night 
was not uncomfortably cool and he was get- 
ting further on. 

Roosters began to crow. A few clouds 
glided athwart some of the brightest stars and 
he found difficulty in traveling. 

Just beyond some buildings he stumbled 
over something hard and immovable. As he 
picked himself up, his hand came in contact 
with cold steel. 

Peering closely he saw two long lines run- 
ning parallel as far as he could distinguish on 
either hand. He found that they were of iron 
or steel and rested on wooden supporters, half 
buried in the earth. 

“Dinged if this ain’t queer!” he thought. 
“Let me see. I wonder if this ain’t one of them 
railroads I’ve heard folks tell about. They say 
it’ll carry you as far in one hour as a man’ll 
.walk all day.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES, 


47 


Pondering over this, to him, puzzling celer- 
ity of motion, he groped his way along the 
track to where it broadened out into a switch. 

^^Reckon this one must run somewhere else,’’ 
thought Ralph, when he suddenly detected a 
large dark object ahead. ^What’s that, I 
wonder. Guess I’ll look into that. Seeing I’m 
getting into a strange country it won’t do to 
be too careless.” 

Going slowly forward, he walked completely 
round the unknown affair, which he ascer- 
tained was on wheels that rested on the iron 
tracks. 

‘^This must be one of their wagons they ride 
so fast in,” said the boy to himself. ^^Hello! 
The door is open.” 

It was an ordinary box car on a siding, the 
sliding door of which was partially open. As 
Ralph strove to peer within, he detected the 
sound of measured breathing. 

^^Some one is in there,” he decided, and drew 
back cautiously. 

The darkness had increased greatly and 
there seemed to be signs of another rain com- 


48 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ing up. No other place of shelter was in the 
immediate neighborhood that he could discern. 

He thrust his head into the car and felt with 
his hands. Nothing could he see, nor did he 
feel aught but the flooring of the car. While 
he debated as to what he should do, the rain 
began again. 

“Gracious!” he exclaimed, ^‘1 don’t like to go 
into another man’s ranch like this, but blamed 
if I am going to get wet, with a shelter within 
two feet of me.” 

He clambered inside and sat with his back 
against the wall, intending to get out again 
after the shower should pass. 

But the shower did not pass on. Instead it 
settled into a steady drizzle. When the rain 
began to beat inside he drew the door nearly 
shut. 

The measured breathing came from one end 
of the car. There seemed to be but one occu- 
pant besides Ralph. 

As the time passed, the lad grew drowsy. 
Inured though he was to an active life, the 
walking he had done had fatigued him greatly. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


49 


Now, as he sat resting, waiting for the rain to 
cease, a natural drowsiness asserted itself 
with a potency that would not be denied. 

As he nodded he awakened himself several 
times by a violent jerk of the head, but at last 
slumber prevailed entirely, and Ralph was 
sleeping as soundly as the other unknown occu- 
pant of the car. 

The unusual events of the last two days had 
kept his fancies at an abnormal stretch. It 
was natural, therefore, for him to begin dream- 
ing. 

It seemed as if he were going back instead 
of leaving his home. Every one he met looked 
at him compassionately. Finally he saw Jase 
Vaughn, and remembered that he owed Jase 
five dollars. He put his hand in his pocket and 
drew out — a rattlesnake. 

Even this did not waken him, though he 
thought he was back at the shack by the tar 
kiln. The ground seemed to be covered with 
snakes. He ran ever so far, then all at once 
he was with Jase just as if he had been with 

him all the time. 

4 


50 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“I haven’t got no money,” he said sorrow- 
fully. 

“Never mind,” replied Vaughn. “You run 
home. Poor fellow; I’m sorry for you.” 

Much perplexed, he kept on until he stood 
before his grandfather’s cabin. He thought 
his Aunt Dopples was there, with her eyes red 
with weeping. 

“Go in; go in,” she urged, pushing him 
through the doorway. “He’s been waiting for 
you till he’s about give out.” 

Ealph dreamed that the first thing he saw 
was his grandfather propped up in bed, with a 
ghastly pallor on his face. When he beheld 
his truant grandson, the scowl upon his brow 
deepened, and he shook a warning finger. 

“Wretched boy!” hissed the old man, while 
Ralph cowered like one in the presence of a 
ghost, “you are no Granger. There never was 
a Granger that acted the coward. You are a 
Vaughn — a Vaughn — a Vaughn!” 

The old man’s tone towards the last rose 
into such a wild, weird shriek, that Ralph’s 
blood ran cold. He attempted to speak with a 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


51 


tongue so tied by fear that words would not 
come. 

Under the agony of efforc he screamed aloud, 
then suddenly awoke. 

‘‘Here! Here! Wake up, I say!’’ 

These words, uttered shrilly in his ear, stag- 
gered his senses as he opened his eyes and 
looked up. 


CHAPTER V. 


Ralph’s First Railroad Ride. 

A slender, thin faced, alert looking man was 
stooping over the boy, and shaking him vigor- 
ously. Day had dawned. 

“Wake up, young fellow!” continued the 
stranger, as Ralph gazed at him in a dazed sort 
of way. “How came you in here?” 

“I — I got in out of the rain,” said Ralph, 
staggering to his feet, only to be thrown down 
again by the jolting of the car, which was in 
rapid motion. 

The sliding door was now open. Ralph glanc- 
ing out, saw the landscape slipping by at a 
furious rate of speed. 

The sight so astonished him, that he sank 
back again. To his unaccustomed senses it 
was as if the earth were turning upside down. 

“What’s the matter with you? Drunk?” 


52 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


53 


“No!” almost shouted the boy, suddenly in- 
dignant. “I never took a drink in my life. 
Neither was I ever on such a — a wagon as this 
before. Lordy! How fast we’re going!” 

The man roared with laughter. 

“Well, you are a curiosity. Where did you 
come from? Out of the woods?” 

“I’m from the mountains. Never was out of 
them before. Isn’t there no danger in going so 
fast? My! How my head swims when I look 
out!” 

“Not a bit of danger, unless in case of a col- 
lision, or when something gives way. But 
come! Give me an account of yourself. When 
I find an uninvited stranger aboard my private 
car, I ought to know something about him, I 
reckon.” 

While Kalph gave a brief account of himself 
and his affairs — omitting the feud, however — 
his eyes rested first on one strange object, then 
another. 

There was a large pile of canvas at one end 
of the car, neatly folded. Several tent poles 
lay along the floor. A large and a small 


64 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


camera, resting on tripods, especially puzzled 
the boy. There were also several chests and a 
trunk or two. 

At the other end of the car there was a cot 
bedstead with mattress and bedding, a chair 
or two, a small table, an oil cooking stove, to- 
gether with other household paraphernalia. 

The whole outfit was simple, yet complete, 
and did not take up much room. 

“Well,” said the man, as Ralph concluded his 
statement, “you seem to be an honest and a 
plucky lad, though an almighty green one, I 
guess. Never been anywhere, you say?” 

“I’ve hunted for miles in the mountains, and 
I’ve been to a store or two, and to meeting, and 
to the ’lections. Yes, and I’ve been to school 
three months a year ever since I was so high,” 
Ralph indicated the height with his hand. 
“But grandpa would never let me go off any 
very great distance from home.” 

“So you finally took matters into your own 
hands and gave him leg bail. Well, that ain’t 
bad. But you mustn’t go about breaking into 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


65 


people’s houses and cars as you did last night. 
It isn’t safe.” 

was lost, and it began to rain. I didn’t 
mean no harm. I can pay my way.” 

He drew forth some money, under a dim idea 
that he had heard some one say once, that be- 
low the mountains, folks made people pay for 
about everything they got. 

^Hveep your cash, my boy,” said the man evi- 
dently having a better idea of Ralph than at 
first. ^^Hold to all you’ve got. People are not 
as free with their grub and beds down here as 
they are up in your country. By the way, 
what’s your name?” 

^^Ralph Granger. What might be yours?” 

^^Mine? Oh, my name is Quigg — Lemuel 
Quigg. I am a traveling photographer.” 

^What is that?” 

^^Did I ever see such ignorance! Ralph, you 
are a curiosity. I take pictures for a living. 
Usually I go by wagon. But I am bound for 
the seacoast, so I hired this car to take me 
right through.” 


56 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“There was a fellow up in our parts once as 
took pictures for two bits apiece.” 

“Like these?” Mr. Quigg threw open one 
lid of a trunk, disclosing a velvet lined show 
case filled with photographs of different sizes. 

They would now be considered antiquated 
affairs, but to Ealph the life-like attitudes and 
looks of the sitters seemed wonderful. 

“Gracious, no!” he exclaimed. “That fellow 
only took little tintypes, as we folks call them. 
These beat anything I ever saw.” 

“Well, suppose we get breakfast,” said 
Quigg, turning to his oil stove. “We’ll be in 
Hendersonville in an hour. Can you cook?” 

Ralph staggered to the stove, and took a 
puzzled look. 

“I’ve cooked on a fireplace all my life, more 
or less. But I don’t think much of that thing.” 

“Don’t, eh? Well, well! You’ll do for a 
dime museum, yotl will. Go and sit down, and 
watch me.” 

Ralph took a seat near the door, and divided 
his time between Mr. Quigg’s culinary oper- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES, 


67 


ations and the swiftly moving panorama out- 
side. 

The dizzy, yet smooth, motion of the car, the 
— to him — miraculous speed, the whirl and 
shimmer of the landscape — all this fascinated 
him after his first nervousness wore off. 

The artist, however, recalled him from this 
sort of day dreaming, by saying: 

^^Ever make biscuit?’’ 

^We eat corn pones mostly at home.” 

^Well, you can fry some bacon and eggs, I 
guess.’^ 

He gave the boy a small frying pan, showed 
him where to place it, then lighted his lamp. 

^^That beats pine knots, don’t it?” he asked, 
while Ralph noted with a new wonder the ease 
and rapidity with which Mr. Quigg managed 
everything. 

While the meat and eggs were frying, the 
artist made coffee, thrust some potatoes into 
the oven beside the biscuit, then completed his 
morning toilet over a tin basin and a hand 
mirror. 


58 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Better take a wash and a brush,” said he to 
Ralph. “I’ll dish up the breakfast.” 

So, while Mr. Quigg set the table, the lad 
washed his face, brushed his hair, and despite 
his homely looking jeans and rough brogans, 
presented a very sightly appearance as he sat 
down opposite the little photographer. 

At least so the latter thought, and remained 
in apparent deep reflection while eating. 

Ralph saw the white granulated sugar for 
the flrst time, and, mistaking it for salt, was 
about to sprinkle some on his egg. 

“That’s a queer way to eat sugar,” said 
Quigg, happening to notice the move. 

“Groes pretty good that way, though,” re- 
turned Ralph, determined to martyr his palate 
rather than own up to any further ignorance. 

He was already beginning to divine the 
primitive nature of his native manner of life, 
but the consciousness of this fact only 
strengthened his desire to familiarize himself 
with these strange usages. 

Quigg laughed, then resumed his reverie. 

After the meal was over, Ralph washed the 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


69 


dishes, while the artist made up his bed and 
otherwise tidied up the car. 

Two window sash of unusual size attracted 
the lad’s attention. 

“Those are my skylights,” said Quigg. “You 
might polish them up a bit after we leave Hen- 
dersonville. That is, if you are going on 
further.” 

Kalph had no definite idea as to where he 
wanted to go, except that he thought of Cap- 
tain Shard. Regardless of Mrs. Dopples’ warn- 
ing, he now said that he had a notion of going 
on to Columbia. 

“All right,” responded Quigg, who liked 
Ralph’s appearance the more he saw of him. 
“Go on with me. You can help me for your 
keep until something better offers. I shall 
stay in Columbia a week, then strike for the 
coast. What say?” 

Ralph assented gladly, and thought himself 
lucky in being afforded so easy a chance to get 
forward. Presently he was rubbing away upon 
the skylights, while Mr. Quigg produced a 
cornet from somewhere among his belongings. 


60 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


and played sundry doleful airs with indifferent 
skill, until the train arrived at Hendersonville. 

“What do you call that brass horn?” asked 
Ralph. 

“A brass horn! Come! That’s good.” Quigg 
laughed loudly. “That is a cornet, and a good 
one, too! But here we are.” 

Hendersonville, though but a moderate sized 
town, seemed to the mountain boy to contain 
all the world’s wonders. Both car doors were 
thrown wide open, and as they had to remain 
on a siding until an express went by, Ralph in- 
dulged his curiosity fully. 

The two and three story buildings, nicely 
painted and standing so close together, the 
teams, the stores, the shouting negroes and 
hurrying whites, were all a startling novelty to 
him. 

“Looks like everybody is a rushin’ as if he’d 
forgot something,” he thought. “What a sight 
of niggers! Good Lord! What’s that?” 

This last he uttered aloud as the express 
whizzed by them at a moderate rate of speed. 

“That’s the train we were waiting for. Now 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


61 


we’ll get on, I guess. You see, our train is a 
freight, and we have to make way for pretty 
much everything.” 

Presently their car began to move. As they 
passed the depot an engine close by blew a 
whistle, at which the boy started. 

The hissing, steaming locomotive was to 
him the most wonderful thing of all. Truly, 
the mountain people lived as in another world. 

“I am glad I left home,” said he to himself. 
“Grandpa would never have let me know any- 
thing. Down here there is a chance to do 
something and be somebody.” 

Soon they were again whirling through a 
semi-level country on their way to the South 
Carolina line. The corn and cotton fields in- 
creased in size, the plantation houses grew 
larger and began to have stately lawns and 
groves of woodland about them. The log 
houses seemed to be mostly inhabited by ne- 
groes. Ralph finished his skylights, then as- 
sisted Mr. Quigg in getting dinner. The after- 
noon wore slowly away; then they ate a cold 
supper, washed down by some warm coffee. 


62 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


The train moved haltingly, having to wait at 
sidings for other trains that had the right of 
way. Night came, and Ralph took a blanket 
and lay down for a nap, having not yet “caught 
up with his sleep,” as he said to the artist. 

Mr. Quigg lighted a lamp and sat down over 
a novel. Ralph slumbered on with his bundle 
for a pillow. 

Once, when he wakened for a moment, he 
saw as in a dream, the strange inside of the car 
with the photographer quietly reading; then 
he dropped off again. 

The next thing he was conscious of was 
being pulled into a sitting position, and hear- 
ing a voice in his ear calling: 

“Hello there! Wake up! Chickens are crow- 
ing for day!” 


CHAPTER VI. 


Ralph in Columbia. 

“All right, grandpa,” said Ralph, mechani- 
cally sitting up, though his ideas were still 
mixed with his dreams. 

“I am not your respected grandparent,” said 
Mr. Quigg from the stove, where he was light- 
ing the fire, “but I’ll dare say he would call you 
just as early.” 

The lad laughed at himself as he sprang up 
and, after washing and brushing, hastened to 
help Mr. Quigg with his morning tasks. 

He happened to glance out and noticed that 
their car was on a siding and that numerous 
other tracks contained many coaches and 
freight cars of different kinds. A small engine 
was puffing up and down among them, while 
on every side beyond were tail buildings and 
vacant lots. 

“Where are we?” he asked. 


63 


64 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Where you said you wanted to go — Colum- 
bia.” 

“Looks like a dirty place,” commented 
Ralph, having had the raw edge of his curi- 
osity sufficiently dulled at Hendersonville to 
make him a little critical already. 

“Wait till we get out where you can see 
something. It’s a fine town. I made a hundred 
dollars in a week here once.” 

This sounded like a fortune to Ralph. 

“You see, one of the home artists was sick 
and the other one on a whiz down at Charles- 
ton, and the Legislature was in session. So I 
just took pictures and raked in the shekels. 
Here comes my dray. Shove all the dishes into 
that chest, Ralph. We’ve lots to do today.” 

A truck driven by a negro and drawn by two 
mules, hitched up tandem fashion, now backed 
up to the open door of the car. 

“Hello Sam!” called out, Mr. Quigg. “Got 
my telegram, did you?” 

“Yaas, suh. Marse Thompson, he read um.” 

“Now, give us a hand, Ralph,” continued the 
artist. “We’ll put the tent on first.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


65 


The lad, having bestowed the dishes, lent 
willing aid in loading the dray, while Mr. 
Quigg superintended operations. 

“I guess you will have to go along with 
Sam,” said he to Ralph. “He’ll want some help 
at unloading. Then you must stay there and 
watch the things until we come with the next 
load.” 

So it was that Ralph found himself presently 
perched high up on the dray and rattling 
through the streets, while Sam sat in front, 
guiding his team by a single rein, and a deal of 
vociferation. 

They came finally to a vacant corner lot 
where they began to unload. 

“Do you know of a man here called Captain 
Shard?” asked the boy, at length remembering 
the individual he desired to find. 

“Reckon I does. Bless grashus! Ain’t I a 
wukin’ fer dat same man de bigger heft er de 
time?” 

“What kind of a man is he?” 

“Fust rate; fust rate. Dat is if he don’t hab 
5 


66 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


nuttin’ begainst yo’. When he do, den — look 
ont.” 

This rather supported the tenor of Mrs. Dop- 
ples’ cautions, and Ealph paused a moment be- 
fore he asked: 

“Where can I find him?” 

“Yo’ membah dat big liv’ry stable on de 
Main Street as we come erlong?” 

“Where there were so many wagons and car- 
riages around?” 

“Yaas, suh. Dat’s him. De cap’n he own um 
all. Disher team ’longs ter de cap’n too. Dey 
some says — Hi yo! If he ain’ a cornin’ right 
now! Oh, cap’n! Say yo’ wanter see him, 
suh?” 

Ralph would have declined such a sudden 
meeting, but before he could think of any ex- 
cuse, a portly, fine looking man, with fiowing 
chin beard and dark, piercing eyes, stopped as 
he was sauntering by. 

“What is it, Sam?” he demanded, at the 
same time scanning Ralph casually. 

“Dish yer white boy, he astin’ where ’bout he 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


67 


kin find yo’, suh. I up an’ tol’ him, when — 
bless de land! — yere yo’ is.” 

Sam gathered up his reins, cracked his whip, 
and tore away down the street without another 
word. 

Ralph, from the divided nature of his 
thoughts, could think of nothing to say until 
the captain spoke again. 

“Well, what is it you want of me — a — what 
is your name?” 

“Ralph Granger,” blurted forth the boy, then 
was sorry he had committed himself. 

Captain Shard glanced sharply at Ralph’s 
coarsely clad figure, and noticed the home 
made texture of his clothes. 

“Granger — Granger,” he muttered as if to 
himself. “From the mountains, ain’t you?” he 
added quickly. 

Ralph was so unaccustomed to lying that he 
said “Yes,” notwithstanding the prickings oc- 
casioned by what Aunt Dopples had said. 

“Who sent you to me?” 

“A man by the name of Dopples, who mar- 
ried one of my kin folks.” 


68 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Tildy Dopples a relative of yours?” The 
captain appeared surprised. 

Kalph, feeling that he was in for it, boldly 
told who and what he was, omitting any allu- 
sion to the feud, however. As he continued, 
the captain, who had been pondering as he 
listened, suddenly scowled. 

“Was your father’s name Ralph, too?” asked 
he, and when the boy nodded affirmatively, 
added: “And was his father’s name Bras 
Granger?” 

“Yes,” replied Ralph. “I lived with him 

after — after ” he hesitated, conscious of 

speaking too frankly. 

“After a Vaughn killed him!” interposed the 
captain with emphasis, then added: “Did you 
know my mother was a Vaughn, boy? And 
that a brother of hers was killed in a duel by a 
cousin of your father’s?” 

“So — I have — heard,” faltered Ralph, feel- 
ing that he was by no means beyond the reach 
of that wretched feud yet. 

“Finally, did you know that this brother of 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


69 


my mother was the man who shot your 
father?” 

“I — never knew until Aunt Dopples told me. 
I call her aunt.” 

“Yet, knowing this, they sent you to me. I 
like Dopples; would do nearly anything for 
him I could. His wife was always rather dis- 
tant. If she is a Granger that accounts for it.” 

“She told me you might not like me if you 
knew who I was, but I — I am so sick of that 
useless old feud, that I thought you might not 
remember it against me. Down here it seems 
as if you have too much else to think of to be 
always wanting to shoot somebody.” 

“Right you are, my boy.” Captain Shard 
now shook Ralph’s hand cordially, though his 
eye held a rather sinister gleam. “What is the 
use of forever brooding over old scores? Come 
round and see me. Perhaps I can put you in 
the way of earning a living.” 

The captain patted Ralph on the shoulder, 
started off, but called back: “If my uncle and 
your great uncle made fools of themselves by 
carving each other up, that is no reason you 


i 

% 

70 , RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES, 

A 

and I should keep up the folly. We are not in 
the mountains now — thank goodness!” 

Though much relieved at Shard’s apparently 
amicable way of taking things, Kalph was not 
altogether comfortable. 

“It was a close pull,” he thought. “Suppose 
he had got mad when he pumped out of me 
who I was? If Mr. Quigg goes on to the coast. 
I’ll stick by him. I’m going to get away from 
that old feud, if I have to go to Jericho.” 

As he arrived at this vague geographical de- 
cision, he beheld Sam approaching with a sec- 
ond load. While they were unloading, Mr. 
Quigg came up on foot. He soon paid the darky 
off, then took a survey of their surroundings. 

“This is not a bad stand for a day or two,” 
said he to Ralph. “We’ll put up the tent first; 
then, while I fix up things inside, you can go 
about and stick up some posters. I’ll put a few 
ads. in the newspapers and, there you are — 
see?” 

Ralph did not see except dimly, yet he as- 
sented readily and began to feel quite an in- 
terest in his new occupation already. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


71 


The tent was soon stretched and the large 
skylight adjusted. Some of the idlers who are 
•always present at any outdoor proceedings in 
town, lent a hand now and then, being re- 
warded with a few nickels by the artist. 

“Now, Ralph,” said Mr. Quigg, after the 
trunks and other movables had been taken in- 
side, “do you know what a poster is?” 

Without waiting for a reply, he lifted from 
a chest a pile of gaily colored placards describ- 
ing in florid style and with gorgeous illustra- 
tions, the unrivaled perfections of Lemuel 
Quigg as an artist, the cheapness of his prices, 
&c., &c. 

“What do you think of these?” asked Quiggs 
holding up one of the largest. “Won’t they 
take the town?” 

“It says you are one of the best artists in the 
world,” said Ralph, scanning the poster 
gravely. “Are you?” 

“Why of course I am!” Here Mr. Quigg 
stared at Ralph a moment, then smiled and 
winked knowingly. “You have to say those 


72 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


things, or people will not think anything of 
you — see?” 

“Whether it is so or not?” 

“To be sure. You must blow your own horn, 
my boy, if you want to get on. Humbug ’em 
right and left, if you look to see the scads come 
in fast.” 

“I wouldn’t lie just to make a little money,” 
said Kalph so earnestly that the artist broke 
into a laugh. 

“You’re in training for an angel, you are. 
Look out you don’t starve though, before your 
wings sprout. But — let’s get to work.” 

The artist selected a number of posters 
which he hung over a short stick, to each end 
of which was attached a leather strap. This he 
slung around Kalph’s shoulder, after the man- 
ner of a professional bill sticker. 

Then placing in his hand a bucket of paste, 
which he had prepared that morning in the car, 
together with a brush, he inquired: 

“Think you can find your way round town 
without getting lost?” 

Ralph was not certain, but said he would try. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


73 


“If you get lost, just inquire your way to 
Main and Third Streets. That’s here. Now 
come on, and I will show you how to stick bills. 
Don’t take long to learn this trade.” 

Ralph followed Mr. Quigg to a vacant wall 
near by, where he took a large poster, held it 
flat against the wall with one hand, gave a 
dexterous swipe or two with the brush, revers- 
ed it, then with a few more flourishes drew 
back and surveyed his work triumphantly. 

“Try a small one over yonder,” he said to the 
boy. 

Ralph obeyed instructions in an awkward, 
though passable manner, whereat the artist 
looked his approval. 

“You’ll do, I guess. Be careful about the 
corners. If a corner doubles on you, you’re in 
trouble. I’ll fasten up, and run round to the 
newspapers with a few ads. then flnish flxing 
up. Look sharp; don’t get lost, and be back as 
soon as you can.” 

Ralph took his way down Main Street, feel- 
ing, as he expressed it, a good deal like a duck 
out of water. 


74 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Presently he stopped at a high board fence 
and stuck a couple of bills without much 
trouble. Quigg had not instructed him where 
and where not to place the posters, and he was 
pasting a large one against the front of a 
closed warehouse, when some one at a near by 
corner called out: 

“Hey, there! Yo’ white boy, there! What 
are yo’ up to?” 


CHAPTER VII. 


An Enraged Photographer. 

Ralph continued his work, thinking some one 
else was referred to, when he was seized by the 
shoulder and jerked rudely around. 

His mountain blood was aflame in an in- 
stant, and seeing only that his assailant was 
a negro boy but little larger than himself, he 
let drive with his flst and sent the other stag- 
gering against the wall. 

“Gret king!” exclaimed the darky, rubbing 
his ear, which had received the blow, “What 
yo’ do dat for, anyhow?” 

“To teach folks to mind their own business,” 
replied Ralph, turning to his half stuck poster 
again. 

“P’lice have you, when yo’ stick dat up dar. 
Hisher’s private proputty.” 

“Can’t I stick these wherever I want to?” 
asked Ralph, in surprise. 


76 


7 & 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Cou’se not. Better tear dat one down.” 

Ralph hesitated, then deeming that in his 
ignorance of city life, he had better be prudent, 
he removed the offending poster, then turned to 
the negro, who still stood angrily looking on. 

“Fm sorry I hit you,” said Ralph. “You see, 
you took hold of me pretty rough and I — ain’t 
used to it exactly.” 

At this apology the colored lad grinned, then 
explained in his own terse way that only cer- 
tain places were set aside for bill sticking, 
even these were rented out to regular bill post- 
ers who paid the city for the privilege of using 
them. 

Ralph listened in astonishment. 

“Then I ain’t really got a right to stick my 
bills anywhere, have I?” 

The darkey was not certain, but inclined to 
the belief that such was the case, unless Ralph 
had arranged matters with those who rented 
these privileges. 

“Well, I’m much obliged for telling me,” re- 
turned Ralph, picking up his bucket of paste. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


77 


“You are a good fellow, and I say again I’m 
sorry I hit you.” 

He walked slowly away, hardly knowing 
what to do. Soon a feeling of indignation took 
possession of him as he considered the peril to 
which Quigg had exposed him. 

“He’s used to towns and he must know it all. 
However, I’ll ask this man in blue. I reckon he 
must be one of them police that darky spoke 
about.” 

The big officer halted as Ralph began to 
question him concerning the rights of bill 
stickers generally and his own in particular. 

“Have ye any license?” demanded the police- 
man gruffiy. “How many bills have you put 
up?” 

“I don’t know what you mean by a license,” 
said Ralph, whose only idea regarding licenses 
was that they were something “to get married 
with.” 

“Ye don’t! Who’s your boss?” 

Ralph explained as best he could Mr. Quigg’s 
occupation and whereabouts, and also inti- 


78 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


mated that he had posted probably half a 
dozen bills. 

“Come with me, then,” said the officer. 
“We’ll look into this.” 

He took Kalph by the arm and marched him 
back to the corner of Third and Main Streets, 
followed by an increasing retinue of street 
Arabs, both white and black. 

When Mr. Quigg saw the officer he shook his 
fist at Ralph. 

“Couldn’t you keep yourself out of trouble?” 
he demanded. 

“Why didn’t you tell me that the walls were 
not free?” retorted Ralph. “I was told I had 
no right to post bills anywhere, and this man 
says I ought to have a license.” 

The artist assumed an air of injured inno- 
cence. 

“Didn’t I tell you to go straight to the city 
hall and procure my license?” 

“No; you didn’t,” said the boy, angered at 
this barefaced attempt to place him in a false 
position. 

“You told me to go out and paste up these 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


79 


bills, and you didn’t say a word about license 
or anything else.” 

“That’s what I get for picking up a lad I 
know nothing about,” remarked Quigg, turning 
to the officer, with a shrug and uplifted eye- 
brows. “He crept into my car night before last 
when I was asleep, and being sorry for him I 
gave him some work. And now he gets me 
into this scrape.” 

“That’s betwixt you and him,” replied the 
officer indifferently. “I’m here to look out for 
the city. If you are going to take pictures, get 
out your license at wanst. And you’d better be 
after seeing Bud McShane the regular bill 
sticker, about the rint of what space ye want, 
or he’ll be in your hair, the nixt.” 

With this the policeman walked leisurely 
away, swinging his club. 

Quigg surveyed Ralph with disgust. 

“Put down that bucket and brush,” said he, 
“and unsling those posters. You’re too prec- 
ious green for my business, by half.” 

“Green I may be,” returned the boy, dis- 
burdening himself at once, “but I am no liar, 


80 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


and I can’t say as I want to work for a liar 
either.” 

“You impudent rascal!” cried Quigg, thor- 
oughly enraged, “I’ll teach you to call names!” 

Quigg was small for a man, and Ealph large 
for a boy of his age. When the former ad- 
vanced threateningly, the mountain lad stood 
firm and eyed his employer steadily. 

“You can talk as you please, Mr. Quigg; but 
— keep your hands off.” 

The little artist stormed and threatened, but 
came no nearer. 

“If you had been sharp,” said he “you would 
have posted those bills in a hurry and dodged 
the police. I could have taken pictures for a 
few days, then boarded the train before the au- 
thorities got onto the scheme.” 

“That wouldn’t be honest, would it?” 

“Honest! Get out of here. What you’ve 
eaten is good pay for the little you’ve done. As 
it is, I shall have a fine bill to settle with the 
city on account of your folly.” 

“You did not care whether I got into trouble 
or not, so you saved a little by swindling the 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


81 


city. That^s about what it amounts to, as far 
as I can make out.^’ 

^^Get out, I say. Tramp ! Scat with you 

Mr. Quigg fairly danced with futile anger, 
while Ealph, seeing the uselessness of further 
w^ords, walked rapidly off. 

The small crowd disappointed in beholding a 
fight, slowly dispersed. The last Ealph saw of 
his former ^^boss,’’ the latter was trying to se- 
cure another assistant from the idle boys look- 
ing on. 

^Well,^^ thought the mountain lad, as he 
walked aimlessly up one of the principal 
streets, ‘‘1 am no worse off than I was be- 
fore I met that fellow. I’m further on my way, 
wherever I fetch up at, and I haven’t had to 
spend any money yet.” 

The sights and sounds of city life so inter- 
ested him for the next hour or two, that he 
partially forgot the exigencies of his situation 
in contemplating the strange scenes by which 
he was surrounded. 

The street cars, the drays, the carriages, and 


82 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the other intermingling vehicles puzzled his 
senses and deafened his ears. 

“What a racket they keep up,” thought he. 
“It’s a wonder they don’t run into each other! 
And the women! I never saw such dressin’ be- 
fore, nor so many pretty girls. Our mountain 
folks on meeting day ain’t nowhere. The 
houses are so high I don’t see how they ever 
climb to the top. I’d just as soon crawl up old 
Peaky Top back of our cabin on Hiawassee.” 

Down at the railroad station he narrowly 
escaped being run over by a swiftly moving 
engine. Its shrill whistle and the objurgations 
of the fireman as it passed, startled' him not a 
little. 

For some time he watched the movments of 
trains and the shifting of cars, and finally 
found his way into the general waiting room 
for passengers. A red shirted bootblack ac- 
costed him in a bantering tone. 

“Hey, country! Have your mud splashers 
shined? Only a nickel.” 

“I’ll shine your nose with my fist, if you don’t 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


83 


let me alone,” said Ralph, with so fierce a 
scowl that the boy edged away. 

The mountain lad, though but half compre- 
hending the bootblack’s meaning, was aware 
that he was being made game of. He paused 
before a full length mirror in the toilet room, 
and for the first time in his life obtained a good 
view of his entire person. 

“I declare! That looking glass is a sight. 
I’m a sight, too. I don’t wonder folks call me 
country.” 

He was sharp enough to realize the differ- 
ence in appearance, between himself in his 
home ma4e outfit and the generally smart 
youth of the city. Yet he could hardly define 
wherein the contrast consisted. 

“I know I ain’t no fool,” was his refiection, 
“yet I know I must look like one to these sassy 
town fellows.” 

The sight of an Italian fruit and cake stand 
reminded him that he was hungry, so he in- 
vested a nickel in a frugal supply of ginger- 
bread, which he munched as he stood on the 
curb. 


84 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Take banana. T’ree fo’ five centa,” urged 
the black eyed girl, with large ear rings, who 
had supplied his wants. 

Ealph eyed the pendulous fruit dubiously. 
He had never seen anything like it before. 

“Looks some like skinned sweet taters,” he 
said to himself. “Are they good?” he queried 
aloud. 

“Verra goot; go nice wiz shinger braad.” 

“All right. Give me three,” and he parted 
with another five cents, then bit into the fruit 
without more ado. 

The girl tried in vain to smother her laugh- 
ter. 

“Zat nota ze way. You peel um — so.” She 
accompanied her words by stripping the skin 
from one. “Now; be ready fo’ eat.” 

Ralph turned away with his relish for new 
delicacies embittered by another reminder of 
his worldly deficiencies. 

“I never know’d before how ignorant we 
mountain folks are. Even that foreign girl as 
can hardly talk at all, laughed at my way of 
doing.” He dropped the bananas into the 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


85 


paper bag holding the gingerbread, and 
frowned heavily. Then he set his lips firmly 
together. ‘‘1 will not let ’em down me this 
way. I’ll learn their ways or die a trying.” 

After enunciating this resolve, he felt better. 
Presently he sat down on a door step at the 
entrance to an alley and ate his lunch with a 
better appetite. 

^^These — what was it she called ’em? — these 
bernanas ain’t so bad after all,’^ he said to 
himself. ‘Taste a little like apples, seems 
like.” 

While he sat there some bells began ring- 
ing furiously and a steam fire engine rushed 
by. The smoke, fiame, roar and speed, stirred 
his blood, while the singular, not to say splen- 
did, appearance of the outfit, with its bright 
brass work and powerful horses, was at once 
fascinating and terrible. 

Having finished his lunch he followed the 
crowd that was surging along the street and 
presently came in sight of the burning build- 
ing, which was a large cotton warehouse. He 
soon was in the midst of a pushing, noisy mass 


86 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


of people, with eyes only for the fire, the roll- 
ing smoke, and the puffing engines. 

Suddenly he felt a touch upon his person, 
which, though light as thistle down, almost 
thrilled him with an indefinite sense of alarm. 
Beaching quickly downward he grasped a 
wrist that was not his own. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Captain Shard’s Proposal. 

The arm Ralph seized was violently jerked 
and twisted, but the mountain boy was strong 
for his age, and held on tight. 

Turning at the same instant he found him- 
self facing the same negro boy, who had prob- 
ably saved him from arrest that morning by 
warning him regarding the bill posting. 

“What did you want in my pocket?” de- 
manded Ralph, feeling with his free hand to 
assnre himself that his money was safe. 

“Hnsh!” half whispered the darky. “I didn’t 
see hit was yo’. Deed I didn’t, snh.” 

Ralph regarded the negro steadily, as it 
dawned npon his crnde conceptions that the 
other was a thief. Then he thought of the 
service the fellow had unwittingly done him, 
and at once released his grip. 


87 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Go,” said he contemptuously. “Don’t let 
me see you round here any more.” 

The negro disappeared in the crowd, one of 
whom said to the mountain boy: 

“Why didn’t you hand him over to yonder 
policeman?” 

“Well — because I sort of felt sorry for the 
fool,” was the explanation Ralph would 
vouchsafe as he, too, turned away and extri- 
cated himself from the throng. 

After that he wandered about the city, find- 
ing something to excite his wonder or admir- 
ation at every turn, until the lowness of the 
western sun admonished him that he had 
better begin to look out for supper and bed. 

First he stepped into an area way, and 
placed his money in an inside pocket. 

“Best to be on the safe side,” thought he, as 
he returned to the street. “Looks like in these 
towns they’d steal a man’s britches if they 
could pull ’em off without his knowing it. 
Hullo! That must be the captain’s livery 
stable.” 

Directly across the street was a large 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


89 


'wooden building, on the front of which, in 
enormous letters, were these words: 


SHARD’S LIVERY STABLE. 


While Ralph was debating whether he 
should again make himself known, the cap- 
tain drove forth from the stable in a buggy. 
His quick eye lighted upon Ralph at once. 

“Come here,” he called, beckoning also with 
his finger. “I see you are still about,” he 
added as Ralph crossed over. 

“Yes, but I ain’t posting bills any more.” 

“Then your job didn’t last long?” 

Ralph frankly related the cause and man- 
ner of his discharge by Mr. Quigg, whereat the 
captain laughed heartily. 

“Well,” said he, “I don’t think you missed 
much, if that is the sort of a man he is. I’m 
city auditor, and I will see that Quigg, or what- 
ever his name is, don’t cheat the city. What 
are you going to do?” 

Shard bent his eyes sharply on Ralph, and 
once more the boy felt uncomfortable. He re- 


90 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


plied, however, that he would find something 
before long. 

“You stay with my foreman tonight,” the 
captain said briskly. “Emmons!” to some one 
inside. “This lad will eat and sleep with you. 
I want you to take good care of him.” 

Emmons, without appearing, grunted a dis- 
tant assent. Ralph ventured a protest. 

“I can find a lodging, captain,” he began. 

“Hut tut! You’re too green yet to be left 
alone all night in this town. Not a word. You 
stay with Emmons. In the morning I will let 
you know of a plan I am considering. It may 
be good for you.” 

Captain Shard gathered up his reins, nodded 
carelessly, and went off down the street in a' 
small cloud of dust. 

Ralph went into the stable, not seeing 
clearly how to refuse, though hardly at ease in 
his mind. As he stood in the doorway, looking 
along a double line of vehicles of all sorts 
backed against the wall, a hoarse voice bade 
him come into the office. 

“Rather a small hole, but large enough for 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


91 


two,” remarked Emmons from a high stool as 
Ralph entered a box of a place, about eight by 
ten, with a desk, a chair, stool, and a few lap 
robes in a corner as the furnishings thereof. 

Emmons was a squat, thick set personage, 
with most of his face hidden behind a tremend- 
ous beard. He cast a careless glance at the 
boy, then shutting a ledger said: 

“Let’s go to supper.” 

He seized an old palmetto hat, and leaving 
the stables, dived down a side street, and into 
a cheap restaurant near by. 

Ralph followed. They seated themselves at 
one of a row of pine tables, covered with oil- 
cloth, and well sprinkled with crumbs and 
flies. 

“Better take beef stew,” remarked Emmons, 
seizing some bread and eating ravenously. 
“Get more if you’re hungry.” 

Two beef stews were therefore ordered, and 
brought with a great clatter of table ware. 
Emmons fell to as if he had not broken his fast 
that day. 

Ralph did not like the chicory coffee, 


92 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


though he did justice to the stew. The crowd 
of rapid eaters, the noisy rush and yells of the 
waiters, the steam fly fans, and the hard faced 
cashier, all excited his curiosity. 

Two checks' were thrown down. Emmons 
pounced upon both, though Ralph did not un- 
derstand what they meant, until he saw the 
stable man lay them, accompanied by two 
dimes, upon the desk at the door. 

“Why did you not let me pay mine?” he 
asked. 

“All right. Boss’s orders.” 

The evening passed quietly, the foreman 
talking but little, though he entertained Ralph 
for a time by playing on a French harp, or 
mouth organ. 

When bedtime came he ushered the boy into 
a sort of cubby hole behind the ofi&ce that was 
barely large enough to afford space for un- 
dressing beside the bed. In five minutes Em- 
mons was snoring lustily, though Ralph lay 
long awake, thinking over the various phases 
of his situation and prospects. 

He was routed out early in the morning to 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


93 


help the foreman feed the horses and mules in 
the stables underneath, and kept busy for an 
hour, after which they took breakfast at the 
restaurant where they had procured their 
supper. 

About nine o^clock Captain Shard arrived in 
his buggy from his home in the suburbs. 

^^Come in here, Ralph,’’ said he, as Emmons 
took the horse. want to have a talk with 
you.” 

He led the way into the office, closed the 
door, and fixed his eyes intently on Ralph, who 
followed. Then he frowned, appeared to 
ponder for a moment, and finally cleared his 
brow as he looked up again. 

^^How would you like to follow the sea for a 
living?” he at length demanded. 

^T^^ollow the sea?” repeated Ralph as if he 
hardly comprehended. ^^Do you mean how 
would I like to be a sailor?’^ 

^^Something of the kind. You would begin 
as cabin boy, probably. If you are smart and 
willing you would soon climb up higher. By 
the time you are eighteen, you should be an A 


94 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


1 seaman, earning at least twenty dollars a 
month and your keep.’’ 

Among the few books the boy had somehow 
got hold of in the mountains, one of the most 
treasured was a copy of Marryat’s “Midship- 
man Easy.” He felt a thrill now, as he pic- 
tured himself in a position to emulate, in a 
measure, some of the adventures therein so, 
graphically depicted. The distant ocean held 
up to his anticipation the stirring pleasures of 
a life on the wave, while veiling from his boy- 
ish ignorance its overmastering hardships. 

The captain saw his face light up, and pro- 
ceeded to explain further. 

“I have a cousin who runs a schooner in the 
West Indies trade. He is now at the Marshall 
House, Savannah. His vessel is somewhere 
near there. Now I can get you a good berth 
with him, I know. I have done him a few 
favors, and he is not ungrateful. 

“Emmons, here, is going to start today with 
a gang of mules for Augusta. You can help 
him on that far, and in payment he will buy 
you a ticket to Savannah, I will give you a let- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


95 


ter to my cousin, and also write Mm by mail 
that you are on the way. Now, what do you 
tMnk of that?” 

“Sounds mighty nice — almost too nice,” 
thought Ralph, who was shrewd enough to 
wonder why Shard — whom he had been 
warned against — should put himself out to 
serve a Granger. 

“Perhaps he is sick of the feud, like me. I’m 
sure I would do him a favor, if he is half a 
Vaughn. By granny! I believe I will take 
him up. Aunt Dopples don’t know every- 
thing.” 

“Think over it well,” added the captain, no- 
ticing the boy’s reflective manner. “A sailor’s 
life is by no means easy, yet a bright, adtive 
lad can rise. Many a captain began before the 
mast.” 

Shard was smiling seductively, though his 
gaze seemed hard and penetrating. He hung 
over the lad not unlike some bird of prey, 
waiting for a favorable chance to pounce. 

“All right,” said Ralph at last. “I will go 
and feel thankful for the chance, if you will 


96 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


answer me one question. Why should you be 
so — so willing to do a favor to me. In the 
mountains folks would think you were crazy.” 

“Ha! That miserable old feud again. My 
boy, I have outgrown it; have been too much 
in the world. I see in you a bright lad, who 
only needs to be started in order to make his 
own way. Why should I not start you as well 
as any one else, especially when it costs me 
nothing but the stroke of a pen? Besides your 
going to Augusta saves me the expense of 
hiring an extra hand.” 

All this seemed so reasonable that Ralph’s 
weakening scruples entirely vanished. He as- 
sented without further parley to Captain 
Shard’s offer, and was straightway placed 
under the supervision of the foreman, who was 
in a rear stable yard haltering a small drove 
of mules together in squads. 

Ralph lent active assistance, and in half an 
hour they were ready to start. One mule in 
each bunch was saddled. Extra clothing was 
rolled in blankets, and strapped behind the 
saddles. 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES, 


97 


Emmons disappeared in the direction of the 
office. When he returned the captain came 
with him, bearing in his hand a letter. 

^^Here is your introduction to Captain Gary, 
the gentleman whom you will find at the Mar- 
shall House in Savannah. Suppose you read 
it to see that all is square and above board.’’ 

^^Oh, it’s all right, I reckon,” replied Ealph 
carelessly. 

^^Yes, it is all right, but I would rather you 
looked for yourself before leaving. Should 
anything go wrong — which I do not anticipate 
at all — I wish to feel exonerated in your mind, 
my boy.” 

The captain’s teeth gleamed almost fiercely 
as he smiled in a friendly manner, though his 
eyes never relented in their hard, unfeeling 
stare. 

Ralph drew forth the note from the envelope 
and read: — 

My Dear Cousin : 

This will make you acquainted with a youth in whose wel- 
fare I already feel a deep interest. He has made up his mind 
to learn to be a sailor, and I shall take it very kindly if you 

7 


98 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


will take charge of him, and see what he can do. Give him as 
easy a berth as you can, and let me know from time to time 
what progress he is making. His name is Ralph Granger, and 
he is as plucky as he looks. 

Your cousin and friend, 

Theodore Shard. 

To Captain Mark Gary, 

Marshall House, Savannah. 

This seemed flattering enough. As Ralph 
expressed his thanks, he repressed a fleeting 
idea that the tone of the letter was most too 
much that way. 

Shard shook him by the hand, and was about 
to retire when he appeared to recollect some- 
thing. 

“Need any money, for clothes, and so on?” 

“I have enough to do me,” said Ralph. “You 
have done enough already, and I ” 

“Never mind that. Emmons will settle 
board bills, and get your ticket in Augusta. 
Good by. Let me hear a good account of you 
when Gary writes.” 

With a flnal nod and smile that was almost 
fatherly, the captain disappeared. 

Emmons had already mounted. Ralph 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


99 


quickly did likewise, and the two, with their 
four footed charges, rode out of the yard 
through a gate that was closed behind them by 
a negro hostler. 

At first the five mules Ralph was leading, 
besides the one he rode, did not travel well to- 
gether. His arm was wrenched almost un- 
bearably in the effort to keep them up to the 
pace Emmons was setting 

The latter, looking back, called out: 

“Make your halter fast to your saddle bow. 
Then lay the whip on.” 

The boy did so, and they were presently clat- 
tering down the street at a pace that made a 
stray policeman wave his club warningly. 
Soon they were in the suburbs, and thence the 
open country came into view, where truck 
farms and fruit orchards gave way to green 
fields of cotton and corn. 

The negroes seemed to be everywhere. At a 
bridge a couple of black fishermen bobbed up 
from behind an abutment, scaring the rear 
squad of mules, 

LoFC. 


100 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


The five lead ones pressed heavily upon the 
one Ralph was riding 

“Look out!” cried one of the darkies. “Yo’se 
gwine over de bank! Watch out, I say!” 


CHAPTER X. 


Ralph Arrives at Savannah. 

The warning was too late to be effectual. It 
might not have done any good, anyhow, as 
under the pressure of five frightened mules, 
the one Ralph bestrode was pushed to the very 
verge of the high embankment leading up to 
the bridge. 

The boy saw the inevitable catastrophe that 
was coming. He released his feet from the 
stirrups, unwound the halter from the saddle 
bow and threw himself on the back of the next 
mule just as the one he had been riding 
toppled over the embankment, down which it 
rolled clumsily to the bottom. 

Ralph spurred the other on vigorously to- 
wards the bridge, while the two negroes, who 
were responsible for the disaster, seized the 
rope that held the animals and between the 
three further mischief was averted. 


101 


102 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


But it was a very close shave. Had the 
whole bunch gone, Ralph’s life might have 
been sacrificed, to say nothing of damage to 
the mules. 

Emmons now came cantering back with his 
charges just as the fallen mule regained its 
feet with the saddle between its legs. 

“What d’ye mean?” he scolded. “Hain’t you 
learned to ride yet?” 

Ralph, rather provoked and much out of 
breath, was silent, but the darkies gave loud 
and voluble explanations, tending mostly to 
exculpate themselves. Then they brought up 
the fallen mule, fixed the saddle and looked as 
if they would not have objected to a small re- 
ward. 

“Hurry, Ralph!” exclaimed Emmons, tossing 
them a dime. “We got no time to lose. Glad 
there’s no bones broken, but you must look 
sharp.” 

Ralph remounted and they were soon on the 
way again. For the next two or three days 
they passed through a mostly level country, 
where great cotton plantations, with stretches 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


103 


of swamp between, alternated with broad pine 
barrens. 

In these last the wind sighed mournfully, 
and the soil looked so poor that the mountain 
boy felt that there was a section worse off 
than his own steep and gravelly native land. 

They arrived in Augusta by way of a ferry 
across the dirty, narrow river that flows near 
the city. The mules were duly delivered to 
the proper parties and the two at last felt at 
leisure to do as they pleased. 

Emmons took Ralph to a soda fountain. 

“What will you have?” he asked. 

“I don’t know; whatever you like,” said the 
boy, once more at sea as to what he might ex- 
pect. 

AVhen the effervescent liquid foamed and 
fizzed, Ralph stared in amazement. 

“Must I drink it?” he faltered, noticing the 
ease with which Emmons swallowed his. 

“Of course, you must. Did you think it was 
to wash with?” 

Ralph afterward averred that it tasted bet- 
ter than it sounded, but again pondered over 


104 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the — to him — increasing mysteries of civiliza- 
tion. They had a late dinner, then made their 
way to the railroad depot, where Emmons 
bought and gave to Ralph his ticket for Savan- 
nah by the train which was to leave in an hour. 

“I’ll be goin’ back to see about the money for 
them mules,” said Emmons at length. “Well, 
good by. Swing tight to your cash, and write 
to us when ye get to Savanny.” 

As the foreman took his big beard out of 
sight somebody out where the cars were 
shouted: 

“All aboard! All aboard!” 

Ralph saw people rushing out and jumping 
on the train that was on the point of starting. 
He suddenly was seized by an idea that he was 
about to be left. So he ran out with the crowd 
and was about to climb into a drawing room 
coach, when a trim colored man dressed in 
blue, who was standing at the steps, stopped 
him. 

“Let’s see your ticket please.” 

Ralph drew it forth and was about to hurry 
on in, when the porter handed it back. 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


105 


^^Dis ain’t your train, boy,” said he with a 
somewhat contemptuous accent. ^^Dis yere’s 
a parlor coach fo’ Atlanty.” 

^Wh — where is my train then?” asked 
Ralph, not knowing what to do next. 

Ain’t made up yet,” called the porter as the 
cars moved away, leaving the lad looking 
about him rather foolishly. 

^^Made a jack of myself again,” said he, as he 
remembered that the agent had told Emmons 
when they bought their tickets, that the Sa- 
vannah train would not leave for an hour. 

He returned to the waiting room and sat 
there very quietly until the time was nearly 
up, then went out and found the proper car 
without further difficulty. 

That long night’s ride was interesting 
though tiresome. Ralph tried to count the 
telegraph poles without understanding much 
about their uses. 

The low, level country, the tall trunks of the 
pines, the ever present negroes, the sparks 
from the engine, and the occasional interrup- 


106 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


tions from the conductor, kept him from sleep 
until long after midnight. 

Finally, however, he coiled himself up on the 
seat and knew nothing more until some one 
shook him by the shoulder. 

“Is yo’ gwine ter stay in yere all day?” asked 
a voice. 

Ralph sat up and rubbed his eyes. The sun 
was shining and the car empty, with the ex- 
ception of himself and a negro brakeman, who 
had awakened him from an unusually sound 
slumber. 

“Where are we?” he asked. 

“We’se in Savanny. Been yere nigh ’bout 
an hour. I seed yo’ was tired, an’ I ’lowed I’d 
let yer sleep. But I’se got ter sweep out now.” 

When Ralph emerged from the depot he 
found himself on a sandy unpaved street, with 
many half shabby frame houses about and a 
number of tall pines in the distance. 

He followed a line of trucks and drays to- 
wards the business part of the city, and pres- 
ently dropped into a cheap eating house for 
breakfast. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


107 


After that he began to inquire for the Mar- 
shall House, which he found to be a large, red 
brick hostelry, with a broad second story 
veranda in front. The sidewalk beneath was 
sprinkled with chairs partially occupied by 
men reading their morning papers or smoking. 

A few glanced curiously at the roughly 
dressed boy, who made his way into a large 
hall and office combined, where trunks and 
grips were stacked up by the score, and trim 
porters and waiters were gliding to and fro. 

He instantly felt himself out of place amid 
those well dressed people, and smart servants. 
It was his first experience with a first class 
city hotel. 

So low did his courage ebb at first that he 
very nearly made up his mind to retreat with- 
out attempting to see Captain Gary. In his 
unwashed, uncombed condition, the contrast 
between himself and those around was em- 
barrassing enough even to his crude concep- 
tion. 

He stood gazing about in a half helpless 


108 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


manner, not knowing to whom to apply for in- 
formation. 

“Where can I find Captain Gary?” he asked 
at length of a porter who happened to be 
lounging near. 

The negro inspected Ralph from head to 
foot, then demanded: “Do he stop yere?” 

“Yes. I have a letter for him.” 

“Oh! Dat all is it?” The porter had found 
it hard to reconcile Ralph’s appearance with 
any other connection with a guest of the hotel 
than a menial one. “Yo’ go right up to de 
office over dar and gin it to the clerk. He see 
Cap’n Gary gits um.” 

“But — but I have to see the captain myself,” 
urged Ralph. 

“What yo’ reckon a gen’lemun like he 
wanter sech a boy as you? Huh?” 

Ralph felt that his clothes were against him, 
but he did not propose to be bullied by a serv- 
ant and a negro at that. 

“Look here,” said he. “I want to see Cap- 
tain Gary and I’m going to see him, too. I’ve 
got business with him — d’ye understand?” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


109 


“Well den,” replied the porter insolently, 
“s’posen yo’ find where he is yo’self.” 

Kalph, without another word, marched 
straight to the clerk’s desk. 


CHAPTER X. 


The Captain Talks With Ralph. 

Ralph’s previous diffidence disappeared 
under the flush of anger aroused by the por- 
ter’s words. 

“Mister,” said he addressing the stylish 
looking clerk, who at flrst barely glanced at 
the lad, “I was sent here from Columbia to see 
a man who stops here called Captain Gary. 
That nigger over there, when I asked him 
where the man was, told me to hunt him up 
myself. I never was in your tavern before. 
How can I find him, I’d like to know?” 

Before Ralph had concluded, the clerk was 
inspecting his person curiously. Ralph again 
thought of his clothes. 

“I don’t look very stylish,” said he, “and I 
know it; but I’ve got business with Captain 
Gary all the same.” 


110 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Ill 


“Front!” called the clerk, without address- 
ing Ralph. 

A smart mulatto boy, uniformed in blue and 
red, sprang from a bench where several others 
similarly clad were seated. 

“Show this — this person to forty nine,” 
directed the clerk, then turned to another in- 
quirer as if he had already forgotten Ralph’s 
existence. 

“There’s one thing certain,” thought the lad, 
as he followed the call boy down a long hall, 
up one flight of stairs and into a richly car- 
peted corridor, “we mountain folks can beat 
these city dudes on manners, if we can’t in any- 
thing else.” 

The boy knocked at a door and a voice 
almost feminine in musical softness bade them 
“Come in.” 

“Some one to see yo’, suh,” said the mes- 
senger, pushing Ralph inside and closing the 
door. 

The mountain youth found himself alone 
with a slender, exceedingly handsome man, so 
slight of flgure and fair in complexion as to 


112 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


fully bear out in his appearance the womanly 
resemblance suggested by his voice. 

He was dressed in a walking suit of a sub- 
dued gray tint, with patent leather gaiters, 
and his hands were white, while his fingers 
sparkled with one or two jeweled rings. His 
linen was spotless and in his lemon colored 
neck tie shone a large diamond. 

He was reclining in an easy chair, smoking 
a cigarette, and as he languidly surveyed 
Ralph, the boy felt that here was a sea captain 
different from those he had read of or 
imagined. 

“Well, my lad, what is it you want of me?” 
inquired the man. 

“My name is Ralph Granger. I have a letter 
for you from Captain Shard. He said you 
would understand.’^ 

Gary took the missive which Ralph now pro- 
duced, opened it, and glanced through it care- 
lessly, then extended his hand. 

“Glad to see you,” said he softly. “So you 
want to try the sea, eh? Well, any one coming 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


113 


from my cousin Shard is always sure of a wel- 
come from me.” 

Here he smiled very sweetly and waved his 
beringed fingers. “Stand more in the light, 
please. I want to take a good look at you, 
Ralph.” 

As he inspected the boy from under his half 
closed lashes, his eyes shone curiously. 

“Now, Ralph,” continud he with lazy cordi- 
ality, as if he had known the youth for weeks 
instead of minutes, “what do you know about 
a sailor’s life?” 

“I don’t know anything, except — except,” — 
Ralph hesitated. 

“Well?” suggested the captain inquiringly, 
and with an enchanting smile. 

“I’ve read a book or two about sea life and 
ships, and all that. Outside of that I ain’t 
posted.” 

“I see. Did you bring any kit along?” 

“What’s that, sir?” 

“Outfit, clothes, baggage, you know.” 

“I’ve got a bundle of clothes down at the car 
shed.” 


114 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“Ah — ^yes.” The captain reflected a moment. 
“My boatswain is to be here at eleven sharp. 
I guess you had better go aboard with him.” 

“Go where, sir?” 

“Down to the ship. We call it going aboard, 
you see,” and once more Oaptian Gary smiled 
with almost infantile amiability. “Been to 
breakfast? Yes? Well, then, suppose you 
take a stroll about and see the town. Don’t 
get lost, and be sure and be back by eleven. 
My room is forty nine; can you recollect that?” 

Ealph thought he could, and was about to 
withdraw when the captain pulled out a silver 
dollar. 

“You may need a little spending money,” 
said he. “Only I hope you won’t buy tobacco. 
Lads of your age, you know, are best without 
it, and as for cards ” 

Ralph hastened to assure him that he not 
only did not smoke or gamble, but that he had 
some money of his own. 

“Take this, however. We will call it a slight 
advance on your wages.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


115 


The captain insisted so genially that Ralph 
could not refuse. 

“Looks like I’ve dropped into a soft snap at 
last,” thought he, as he found his way to the 
street. “I wonder if many ship captains are 
like him? Them as I have read of were mostly 
great, big, strapping, swearing sort of fellows, 
ready to knock a body down when things don’t 
go to suit ’em. Well, I’m glad I’ve got such 
an easy going boss to learn a sailor’s trade 
under. I wonder where we will sail to first? 
I hope it will be a good long voyage where I 
can see and learn a heap.” 

After Ralph’s departure Captain Gary sank 
back into his chair and smoked his cigarette 
out. Then he produced another letter, ad- 
dressed in the same hand as the one given him 
by Ralph, and spread them out together on his 
knees. 

“So,” said he, half aloud, while certain hard 
lines appeared on his face that changed its 
entire expression to one of callous severity, 
“my good cousin wants me to put this lad 
through. What is there about the boy that he 


116 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


dislikes? Well, Theodore has done me more 
than one good turn. What is a lad more or 
less?” 

He stared at the wall before him, disclosing 
in his now widely open eyes a brightness as of 
steel, for the feminine softness had vanished 
utterly. ‘‘Tom Bludson will make him wish 
he had never been born as quickly as even 
Shard could desire. To make sure, we might 
leave him behind when we reach the Gold 
Coast. However, all this can be decided later.” 

The captain lighted another cigarette, rang 
for a mint julep, then addressed himself to 
some writing, the materials for which were 
scattered about on a table by the window. He 
wrote several letters, made out some orders 
and accounts, smoking the while and sipping 
his julep through a long rye straw from time 
to time. 

At last, promptly on the stroke of eleven, 
appeared a tall, brawny, mahogany faced sea- 
man, clad in blue flannels of a nautical cut. 
This personage pulled off a round, flat, visor- 
less cap, and made a half military salute upon 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


117 


entering in obedience to the captain’s sum- 
mons. 

“That you, Ralph?” said the latter softly 
but without looking up. “That’s right. Al- 
ways be prompt, and you will be — a — hello!” 
raising his eyes.” What the dev — oh! It’s 
you, is it, Tom?” 

“Me it are, sir,” replied the tall sailor, again 
ducking his head. “I was to report at ’leven — 
shore time.” 

“I thought it was that cursed boy,” returned 
the captain in a sharp, quick tone, totally un- 
like the soothing drawl he had used in ad- 
dressing Ralph. “Where can he be, I won- 
der?” 

The boatswain, comprehending that the 
captain was making inquiry rather of himself 
than his auditor, remained discreetly silent, 
merely availing himself of a chance to throw 
a tremendous quid of “navy” into the fireplace. 

“I want you to take him on board, Tom,” 
added Gary, turning round. “You must see 
him stowed before I go down.” 

“Where will I find him, sir?” 


118 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“The deuce only knows. I told him to take a 
run round, but to show up at eleven. He is a 
thorough backwoods rooster and he may have 
got lost. Suppose you take a turn round the 
square and look him up. Don’t be gone long. 
I have stores yet to go down by tug.” 

“Aye, aye, sir,” quoth Bludson, and 
promptly vanished. 

The captain had hardly buried himself in his 
accounts again, before the boatswain re- 
appeared, holding Ralph by the collar. The 
lad had resisted at first, but found himself 
helpless in the grasp of the gigantic seaman 
and now ceased his struggles, though his face 
was red with vexation. 

“Be this the chap?” asked Tom. 

“Yes; you may turn him loose, however.” 

The captain’s teeth shone very white, so 
broad was the smile with which he strove to 
conceal the scowl that had at first mantled his 
brow at sight of Ralph. 

“My boy,” continued he, “you will not feel 
hurt when I tell you that punctuality is one of 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


119 


the first requisites of success in the calling you 
have chosen.’^ 

lost my way for a little while/’ began 
Ralph, but the captain signified that the tardi- 
ness was pardoned already. 

^^You see we sail tonight on the flood/’ he 
added, ^^and we have yet much to do. This is 
our boatswain or bos’n — as we call them — Mr. 
Bludson. He will accompany you to the ship. 
Perhaps you will not mind assisting him a lit- 
tle in seeing to some stores that are yet to go 
down. Tom, you must be careful of young 
Granger. We already take a great interest in 
his welfare.” 

Tom looked puzzled at first, but when the 
captain smiled once more he seemed relieved. 
Evidently he understood that smile. 

Ralph thought he did too, and he again felt 
that he was lucky in having so kind hearted 
a captain. 

After that Gary and Bludson conferred to- 
gether over matters concerning the ship, while 
Ralph twirled his cap and placed his bundle 
beside him on the carpet. Some fifteen min- 


120 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


utes might have thus passed, then the boat- 
swain straightened np, thrnst some papers the 
captain had given him into Jiis hip pocket, and 
turned to the door. 

'‘Now, yonngster,” said he, “we’ll get sail.” 

“Stay with Blndson, Kalph,” called the cap- 
tain, waving his hand gracefully; “he will see 
you through in fine shape.” 

“Aye, aye. I warrant I see him through,” 
echoed the boatswain hoarsely as the two 
went out. 

In Ralph’s opinion the captain was much 
more agreeable and “well mannered” than his 
snbordinate. In the hall below they encoun- 
tered a heavy set, bushy bearded man in navy 
blue, at sight of whom Bludson touched his 
cap. The man looked so sharply at Ralph that 
the boy inquired: 

“Who is that, Mr. Bludson?” 

“That’s our first mate, and a rare nn he is, 
too.” 

“A rare one. What do you mean by that?” 

“Oh! You’ll find out soon enough. Best not 
ask too many questions. Howsever, I’ll give 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


121 


ye one bit of advice, as is worth a heap to 
landsmen aboard ship, and it shan’t cost ’e a 
cent. That is keep your eyes peeled and your 
tongue betwixt your teeth. That’s the way to 
larn and keep a whole skin.” 

All this was rather enigmatical, but Ralph 
understood that he was not to ask any ques- 
tions. 

After that Mr. Bludson maintained a digni- 
fied silence as he plunged, with Ralph at his 
side, into the regions of the wholesale trade. 
They called at several grocery and provision 
stores, and also at a ship chandler’s. The 
boatswain had sundry talks with sundry 
clerks and some drays were loaded. 

Finally the two emerged upon the river front 
where lay, among other craft, a steam tug with 
a gang plank ashore. Tom pulled off his coat 
and gave it to Ralph, saying: 

^^Climb aboard with this, then come back 
and bear a hand.” 

The lad ran down the plank and deposited 
the boatswain’s jacket and his bundle in the 
helmsman’s closet, then made his way back 


122 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


and took hold of the incoming freight with a 
will. 

In half an hour the stores were on board, 
and the tug, casting loose, began to steam 
swiftly down the river. 

It being Ralph’s first experience afioat, the 
swift, gliding motion and the noisy engine in- 
terested him greatly. The novelty was, in its 
way, as exciting as his first car ride. 

“What is it makes things go?” he asked of 
Bludson, who was sprawled upon a coil of 
cable, smoking a short black pipe. 

“The ingine and the propeller, ye lubber,” 
replied the latter. “Did ’e think it was wings?” 

“But what is a propeller?” 

“Ah! The ign’erance of laud folks! It do 
beat all. The propeller — why the propeller is 
a propeller, of course. What else did ’e think 
it were.” 

“I know, but ” 

“Now look here, youngster. Watching is 
one thing and always wanting to know is an- 
other. Stow your gaff, as I said afore, and use 
your peepers.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


123 


After this rebuff Ealph asked no more ques- 
tions of his superior, but he faithfully obeyed 
the injunction as to “keeping a bright look- 
out.’^ 


CHAPTER XI. 


Aboard the Curlew. 

They steamed along between low marshy 
banks for an hour or two, then the river began 
to widen into an irregularly shaped bay. Sun 
dry low lying islands, covered with strange 
semi-tropic vegetation, rose up seaward, and 
by and by a sound as of muffled thunder could] 
be heard. 

As they passed old Fort Pulaski, Ralph ven- 
tured to question the pilot on the roof. This 
grizzled boatman was gruff, but obliging. 

“It’s the roar of the breakers, you hear,” 
said he. “That is an old fort. Good for a siege 
once — no good now. And yonder — do you see 
that low lying, black schooner under the lee of 
Tybee light?” 

“Where?” inquired Ralph, leaning out of the 
little pilot house window. 

The pilot pointed, but it was quite a minute 


124 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


125 


before the boy could distinguish the vessel. 
When he did, all his unaccustomed eye could 
make out, was a narrow dark line surmounted 
by a dim tracery of spars that were barely re- 
lieved by the white beach behind. 

Still further beyond rose the towering white 
lighthouse. 

“I believe I do see it,” he said at length. 

“Well, that’s the Curlew. She’s a daisy on 
the wind, or for that matter sailing free 
either. There ain’t a sweeter looking fore-an- 
after on this coast.” 

“Is that Captain Gary’s ship?” asked Ralph, 
for he had not heard the name of the vessel 
mentioned before. 

“Well, you are an ignoramus. Don’t know 
the name of the craft you’re shipping on.” 

The old pilot looked disgusted. “Where’d 
you get your trainin’?” 

When Ralph explained that this was his 
first sight of salt water, and that he had seen 
the captain for the first time that morning, the 

i 

pilot shook his grizzled head doubtfully. 

“Captain Gary is a deep one, that’s what he 


126 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


is. He was mighty milk and watery, wasn’t 
he? I thought so. Know where you’re bound 
for?” 

Ealph had not the least idea, but felt no un- 
easiness, as the captain was so kind; had 
treated him almost like a son. 

“Did eh! Well, now see here. It’s none of 
my business, but I believe in a fair shake.” 
The pilot glanced round and noticing the boat- 
swain sauntering toward them, he bent for- 
ward and concluded in an undertone: “When 
you get aboard and out to sea, you keep your 
eyes open and watch out for squalls. D’ye 
hear. Watch out for squalls.” 

The boy heard but did not understand. The 
pilot’s manner, however, impressed him as 
unusual. He felt vaguely uncomfortable, as 
the old man, after a knowing wink or two, 
fixed his eyes upon the course he was steering, 
and thereafter ignored Ralph’s presence en- 
tirely. 

Bludson cast a searching glance at them 
both, then ordered Ralph to go below and 
bring up his coat. The lad obeyed and when 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


127 


lie returned, the tug had forged past an island 
headland, disclosing to them a fine view of the 
open ocean. 

Ealph uttered an exclamation of wonder, 
and for five minutes or more he leaned against 
the guard rail, feasting his eyes on the heav- 
ing expanse of blue, foam dotted water near 
the inlet, where the rollers were breaking upon 
the bar. 

“It’s the greatest sight I ever saw,” he said 
tnrning to Bludson, who merely grunted. “How 
blue it looks!’ I suppose those changing lines 
of white are the breakers. Well, well! This 
beats the mountains. I wish I was out there 
right now.” 

“You’d be wishing yourself ashore soon,” re- 
turned Tom apathetically. “Wait till ’e gets 
seasick.” 

“What is that? Hoes the sea make you 
sick?” 

“I should say it do. But there’s a mighty fine 
cure for all that. Aye, ’tis a bracin’, healthful 
cure.” 


128 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


'‘Tell me, Mr. Bludson. You know I might 
get seasick, too.” 

“Ye be bound to. Then cap’n ’e’ll say lay for- 
rid there and trice up that fo’topmast stays’l 
brace; and there you is first ’e know fifty feet 
above the fo’ s’l boom, a takin’ a good look of 
an hour or so at old Neptune. Well, if that 
don’t fetch ’e all right, cap’n ’e’ll say 'Reeve 
a slip knot under his arms’ which, no sooner 
done than overboard you goes for a dip or two. 
That always brings ’em round.” 

“Looks like a queer way to cure a sick man,” 
commented Ralph, who but half comprehended 
the boatswain’s lingo. 

“It beats the doctor though all the same,” 
said Tom with rather a heartless grin. “But 
look round. What do ’e think of the Curlew 
now? Ain’t she a beauty?” 

The tug had got near enough to enable the 
proportions of the vessel to be seen quite dis- 
tinctly. 

Even to Ralph she was a graceful and pleas- 
ing sight. The long, low, black hull exhibited 
curves as perfect as the flowing sweep of a rain- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


129 


bow. The tall mast, the tapering tracery of 
spars, the snowy canvas and the general trim 
and orderly air maintained, were all attractive 
to the eye. 

In a brief time, the tug was lying alongside 
and the stores transferred to the schooner’s 
hold in short order. A dozen or more catlike 
sailors assisted the crew of the tug, and Ralph 
made himself useful. 

When the tug sheered off, the boy leaning 
over the side of the schooner, beheld the pilot 
shake his head in a doubtful way as he an- 
swered Ralph’s farewell wave of the hand. 

^^So I must look out for squalls, must I?” he 
reflected. wonder what the man meant. 
Never mind. I am young, stout, and I’m not 
afraid. So I guess I won’t worry. So nice a 
man as Captain Gary won’t see a boy put upon, 
I know.” 

A heavy hand came down on his shoulder. 

^^Come now! We don’t want no idlin’ or star- 
ing over the side on this craft. Come along and 
stow your kit and sling your hammock. Then 

we’ll eat a bite — you and me.” 

9 


130 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Thus roused, he followed Tom Bludson into 
the forecastle, where a low but roomy apart- 
ment was lighted both by a swinging lamp and 
the daylight streaming through the narrow 
companionway. There was a double row of 
bunks on either hand and overhead were hooks 
to swing hammocks in the space between. 

Bludson unslung a hammock from the wall 
and tossed it to Ralph. There was a blanket 
inside. 

“Wrap your clothes in that blanket and give 
the hammock a turn or two — so.” The boat- 
swain accompanied his words by showing 
Ralph how a hammock is folded and slung to 
the hooks overhead when not in use. 

“Now,” he added, “it’s stowed for the day. 
When bedtime comes you must unsling and 
hang it as the rest do. You see there’s not 
enough bunks for the crew, so some has to use 
hammocks.” 

After that Tom led the way to the cook’s 
galley, a mere closet of a place just abaft the 
foremast. In entering one went down two or 
three steps. Here they found Neb (short for 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


131 


Nebraska), the cook, a short, fat jolly looking 
negro, who with his stove and cooking utensils 
so completely filled up the place that Ealph 
was puzzled to see how the man ever managed 
to cook at all. Every bit of space was utilized, 
however. There were drawers and lockers un- 
der shelves and tables, while overhead were 
swinging racks for dishes and provisions. 

“Hi, Marse Tom, who be dat yo’ got dar? One 
er dese yere shore kids?” 

“Tes, he’s a shore kid. Neb. Him and me 
haven’t had any dinner. Can’t you shake us 
up a bit of something. Salt horse and skilly 
will do, if nothin’ else is handy.” 

Neb was acquiescent and the boatswain and 
his charge were soon discussing a hearty meal 
with molasses, vinegar and water for a bever- 
age instead of coffee. 

After that Bludson took Ealph aft and intro- 
duced him to the second mate, Mr. Duff, a slim, 
active, pleasant looking young man of four and 
twenty, who was superintending the coiling of 
a spare cable in a cuddy hole beneath the 
wheel. 


132 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“New boy, eh,” said he, giving Ralph a brief 
but keen inspection. “I thought the captain 
swore that he wanted no more boys, after 
Bunty gave him the slip.” 

Bunty, Ralph afterward learned, had run 
away at a foreign port with a small sum of 
money not his own. 

“Cap’n’s changed his mind then, sir,” re- 
turned Tom, “He said as ’e wanted p’tickler 
care taken of this kid, and he was to wait in 
the cabin till ’e gets his sea legs on so to speak.” 

“What’ your name?” To Ralph, then turn- 
ing to the men: “Easy there. Lay her even, 
can’t you.” 

Ralph replied and Bludson added: 

“Blest if the kid’s ever seen the ocean before. 
He don’t know a brace from a marlin spike.” 

“I can learn, I reckon,” said Ralph so hearti- 
ly that Mr. Duff took a second look at the boy, 
then smiled to himself. 

“Run down to the cabin and fetch me up 
the doctor,” said the mate. “Yon’s the way.” 

He pointed towards the companionway. 

Ralph, somewhat puzzled, started down, but 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


133 


fancied he heard a sound of smothered laughter 
as he passed from sight. 

^They^re making fun of me/’ thought he. 
don’t believe there is any doctor here.” 

The two men having finished with the cable 
went forward, just as Ralph reappeared bear- 
ing a box of patent pills he had found below. 

^That’s the nearest thing to a doctor I could 
find,” said he. 

The mate roared with laughter, while Long 
Tom grinned broadly, and the sailors snickered. 

guess you’ll do, my lad,” exclaimed Mr. 
Duff in high good humor. ^^Come with me and 
I will show you what the doctor is. Bludson, 
have that peak block on the foresail gaff slung 
a little higher. I think she will hoist easier.” 

^^Aye, aye, sir,” returned the boatswain, 
while Ralph, following the mate, again de- 
scended to the cabin. 

The cabin was roomy, well carpeted, and con- 
tained a stationary table through the center 
of which ran the mainmast of the schooner. At 
the stern were two staterooms; one for the 
captain and the other for the two mates. Lock- 


134 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ers and drawers were scattered about, and a 
mirror with a picture or two was attached to 
the walls. 

On a cushioned seat at one side lay a large 
white cat. 

^‘That’s Doctor,” said the mate. “He’s a great 
pet, and while you are aft you must see that 
he wants for nothing.” 

The mate showed Ralph a small closet where 
were sundry brooms, brushes and other imple- 
ments for cleaning up. 

“As you are to be cabin boy, for a while at 
least,” said Mr. Duff, “you might as well begin 
by tidying up the cabin a bit. We want to 
have things shipshape by the time the captain 
comes aboard.” 

For an hour or so Ralph busied himself ac- 
cordingly, until a commotion on deck led him 
to look out at one of the stateroom windows. 


CHAPTER XII. 


The Curlew Puts to Sea. 

These windows were mere bullseye affairs, 
swinging on pivots. 

Pushing one open, Ralph saw a four oared 
boat pulling rapidly for the schooner. Pres- 
ently he heard the rattle of oars under the ves- 
sel’s side, and an order or two issued by the 
second mate. 

He hastened up the companionway just in 
time to see Mr. Duff saluting Captain Gary and 
Mr. Rucker as they came over the side, passing 
between several seamen drawn up on either 
side of the gangway. The first mate cast an 
eye aloft and to seaward, while the captain 
walked so quickly down the companionway that 
he nearly overturned Ralph. 

^^What do you mean?” exclaimed Gary, ding- 
ing the lad roughly aside. ^^Have you no man- 
ners?” 


135 


136 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


He disappeared in the cabin whither Ralph 
followed dnmbfounded at this unlooked for ex- 
hibition of temper on the part of his hitherto 
placid superior. 

The captain was flinging down some papers 
on the table. Looking up he recognized Ralph 
for the flrst time. 

“That you, Ralph?” he said, banishing a 
scowl in a smile that had no mirth in it. “Was 
it you outside?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“I did not know it was you. But we learn 
to look sharp and be spry on shipboard. Did 
Bludson treat you well? Ah — that’s good. Had 
a pleasant time? I always want my men to 
enjoy themselves. I see you have tidied up 
things here. You must keep this cabin clean, 
and also these staterooms. You will also wait 
on the cabin table and take your meals here.” 

The captain started for his own room, but 
looking back, said: 

“Go forward, Neb will show you about mak- 
ing ready for supper. 

From then on until flood tide, several hours 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


137 


later, both men and officers were busy in stow- 
ing away and making things generally snug. 

After his duties at the table were over, 
Ralph had little to do but to watch what was 
going on around, which he did eagerly, striving 
to master, as well as he could, the mystery and 
duties of the strange life upon which he was 
entering. 

As the hour grew late, only the watch on 
deck, together with the officer in charge, re- 
mained above; that is except Ralph, who found 
everything interesting. The first mate was in 
his berth, and the captain writing in the cabin. 
Mr. Duff was walking to and fro near the wheel, 
while in the forecastle the major part of the 
crew were in their bunks. 

It might have been near midnight. Ralph, 
having seated himself on the step between the 
quarter and the main decks, had at last fallen 
into a doze, with his head against the bulwarks. 

Captain Gary came up, cast a look about and 
then consulted his watch. 

“We might as well make sail, Mr. Duff,” said 
he in a low tone. “Call all hands.” 


188 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Then he returned to the cabin. A moment 
later Bludson’s shrill whistle aroused Ralph 
with a start. 

The deck became alive with moving figures 
in answer to the boatswain’s hoarse summons. 

“Hoist away with a will, men. Yo — heave — 
ho! Up she goes.” 

To such and similar cries, Ralph saw the 
great main sail unfold its vast expanse in obedi- 
ence to the measured hauling of a line of men, 
who uttered a monotonous half shout as they 
bent to the work. Another gang soon had the 
foresail going upward, after which the capstan 
was manned. 

To Ralph these proceedings were thrillingly 
attractive. It was his first bewildering taste 
of the duties of a sailor’s life. 

As the men pushed with a will at the capstan 
bars, and the ship drew toward her anchor, 
some one struck up a song that ran somewhat 
as follows: 

“A bucklin’ wind and a swashin’ tide, 

Yo ho, ho, boys, yo ho, ho! 

[f I had Nancy by my side. 

With a yo ho, ho, ho, boys, yo ho, ho!” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


139 


While there did not seem to be much sense 
attached to the words, the manner in which 
they were roared forth, and the push altogether 
with which they drove the bars at the end of 
each line, made a vivid impression on the moun- 
tain lad’s imagination. 

He felt glad that he had elected to be a sailor, 
even though he began as an humble cabin boy. 
There was an element of dash and danger con- 
nected with the life that appealed to the nat- 
ural daring of his disposition. 

“I shall certainly see enough of the world,” 
thought he, “and I shall leave that miserable 
feud far, far behind.” 

With the anchor a-trip, the men waited for 
the final signal. As a light westerly puff 
swelled the mainsail, which was drawn fiat, 
Mr. Duff uttered a low “Now then,” that was 
repeated loudly by the boatswain, who acted 
also as a sort of sailing master. 

“Yo ho, ho! Heave ’er up, hearties!” 

The capstan was again manned, and as the 
schooner fell off before the wind, Ralph, lean- 
ing over the forward bulwarks, saw the great 


140 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


anchor hang dripping under the bow. Later 
on it would be stowed on deck. 

And now the three jibs were hoisted one after 
another, then the topsails, and finally, as the 
breeze was light, a triangular staysail was run 
well up to the weather side between the masts. 

Under the influence of the wind and tide the 
Curlew spun along at an eight knot gait, trail- 
ing a glistening wake behind and with a briny 
hissing along the side as the smooth hull cut 
the rippling water. 

Presently the north point of the inlet was 
abreast, and Ralph began to notice a slow rock- 
ing motion which, as the vessel rose upon the 
swells, made him feel as if the deck were sink- 
ing beneath his feet. At first it was a pleas- 
ant sensation, and he leaned over the side, en- 
joying the starlit view, the moist, balmy air 
and the gentle motion. 

Tybee was now well astern. On either hand 
the shore line was receding while in front came 
a low, irregular roaring. 

Ralph walked back to where Mr. Duff was 
standing at the binnacle, conning the ship. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES, 


141 


There was no pilot aboard, as for some reason, 
Captain Gary did not wish the time of his de- 
parture publicly known. 

^What is that noise we hear ahead Mr. Duff?’’ 
asked the lad, whereat the sailor at the wheel 
snickered, while the mate allowed himself to 
smile. 

^That’s the surf on the bar,” said he. ^What 
did you suppose it might be?” 

’lowed it might be thunder, only I didn’t 
see any clouds.” 

At this Mr. Duff laughed outright, and the 
sailors nudged each other as if highly tickled. 
Ralph looked from one to another, and his pulse 
beat fast. 

^Tf I had you folks up in our mountains,” 
said he, ^^mebbe I could show you a thing or 
two that would puzzle you. I know I’m green, 
but I’m not too green to learn.” 

^^You’ll do,” replied the mate shortly, as the 
boy turned away. 

A little later as he was standing by the after 
hatch, a hand was laid on his arm. 

^‘Ralph,” said the second mate, for it was he. 


142 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“let me give you a bit of advice. No matter 
what is said or done to you, take it and go 
along. Hard words mend no bones. I’m giv- 
ing you straight goods, my lad. You seem to 
have the right kind of stuff in you, and all you 
need is to be kept in line.” 

“Mr. Bludson said something of the sort, I 
think. All right, sir. I’ll keep my mind on that, 
and I’m obliged to you.” 

But after the mate had returned to the bin- 
nacle Ralph was conscious of a fall in his spir- 
its. Ocean life might be glorious after a while, 
but at present he was apparently under every- 
body; he knew less than anybody, and — sud- 
denly he threw his hand to his head. 

The roar of the breakers was close at hand 
now, and as the Curlew began to roll and pitch 
in quite a pronounced manner, the boy would 
have been alarmed but for the overmastering 
wretchedness of his feelings. His whole inter- 
nal system seemed to be turning upside down. 

“It must be!” he groaned, staggering to the 
side, “I — I’m — sea — sick. Oh — oh — oh — Lordy! 


CHAPTEE XIII. 


A Taste of Ship’s Discipline. 

For an hour or more passing events were as 
naught to Ealph. Too ill to sling his hammock, 
he finally crawled under one of the small boats 
on the main deck, and at last fell asleep. 

The next thing he was conscious of was a 
terrible chill, a sensation of drowning, and 
gasping for breath. As he woke he heard a 
gruff voice say: 

“If that don’t fetch him nothin’ won’t.” 

As Ealph opened his eyes, several seamen 
were standing about, laughing, one of whom 
held a half emptied bucket of water. 

The boy’s head ached and he was thoroughly 
drenched and miserable. 

“Up you get!” said Long Tom, pausing in his 
walk to and fro in the waist of the schooner, 
“Time you were gettin’ breakfast on the cabin 


143 


144 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


table. Cap’n always raises thunder when break- 
fast is late.” 

Ealph, on rising to his feet, nearly pitched 
down again, being brought up with a round 
turn in the lee scuppers. 

“Easy now, and get ’e sea legs on,” suggested 
Bludson, who was balancing himself dexter- 
ously in his walk. 

The wind had stiffened, and a crisp plain of 
dancing white caps met Ralph’s gaze as he 
steadied himself by the bulwarks. The Curlew, 
under a single reefed fore and mainsail and a 
single jib, was gracefully rising and falling to 
the rhythmic motion of long and ponderous 
waves. 

The unaccustomed roll bewildered the lad 
from the mountains, the singing of the wind 
through the shrouds buzzed strangely in his 
ears. He made a dive for the cook’s galley, 
where Neb was dishing up the cabin meal. 

“Mind yo’ steps, now,” the negro cautioned 
him, as Ralph, with a waiter full of dishes, 
started for the companionway. 

The boy, though wet and shivering, deter- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


145 


mined to do liis duty, come what might. By the 
assistance of Long Tom, who seized him by 
the collar and propelled him roughly but safely 
across the deck, he managed to reach the cabin. 

He got the table arranged somehow, placing 
the dishes in the rough weather racks provided, 
then after washing his face, he made his way 
back to the galley and started with another 
waiter full of eatables. 

This time something had drawn Long Tom 
away. Ralph did very well until he came to 
the open space between one of the boats and 
the mainmast. A rope really should have been 
stretched amid deck for his aid, but as others 
did not need it, no one thought or cared for the 
cabin boy. 

Just as Ralph made a dive for the mast and 
the afterhatch beyond, the captain emerged 
from the companionway. The boy reached the 
mast in safety. Encouraged by this, he loos- 
ened his hold and started boldly for the head 
of the stairs. 

Unfortunately the stern of the Curlew sank 

suddenly under the influence of a receding wave 
10 


146 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


of unusual proportions. Ralph and his waiter 
of dishes were thrown violently forward against 
Captain Gary, iwho stood like a rock, while the 
boy pitched one way and his dishes went an- 
other. 

All who saw the catastrophe looked on with 
suspended breath. 

The captain glared at Ralph as the lad picked 
himself up, then pointed to the wreck of his 
breakfast. 

“Clean up that rubbish,” he growled, a grim- 
ness as of death settling over his face. 

Two sailors sprang forward with bucket and 
mop. The captain turned to Ralph, who could 
now trace little resemblance in his superior’s 
face and mien to the bland, almost fatherly 
man who had welcomed him at the Marshall 
House. 

“My lad,” said Gary, and his voice grated 
harshly on the ear, “I don’t think the deck 
agrees with you. Suppose you try the fo’mast 
head for an hour. Come! Up you go!” 

In his bewilderment Ralph attempted to 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


147 


mount the mainmast ratlines in a lumbering 
way. 

“Start him up, Long Tom,” rbared the cap- 
tain. “The fool don’t even know where the 
fo’mast is.” 

Bludson again seized Ralph by the collar, 
propelled him the length of the deck and gave 
him a long boost up the forward ratlines. 

Paint from sickness, shivering in his wet 
clothes, dizzy with the peril of his position, yet 
with a rising passion in his heart, the boy be- 
gan to ascend. With a shifting foundation un- 
der his feet, a stiff wind flattening him against 
the shrouds, and a deathly swaying to and fro 
that increased as he went higher, he managed 
to reach the foretop. Crawling through the 
lubber hole he rested and held on. 

“Up with you!” shouted the captain, but 
Ralph gave no heed. 

He was weak, faint and dizzy. The heaving 
plain below made his head swin. The schoon- 
er’s deck looked fearfully small. 

Casting his eye upward, he saw a narrowing 
ladder of rope shooting to a mere dot of a rest- 


148 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ing place twenty feet above him. It did not 
look as if a monkey could have held on there. 

‘Why in the don’t you go on!” roared 

Gary, who was now pale with contained fury. 

“I think the lad is sick, sir,” said Duff, who 
happened to be near. “See — by heavens! — he 
has fainted. 

“The kid is shamming,” growled the first 
mate, whose watch it now was. “A dose of the 
paddle would bring him to. I’ll warrant.” 

“I think you are right, Eucker,” said Gary 
without paying any heed to the second mate. 
“Lay for’ard there two of you and lash him to 
the topmast shrouds. He shall have his hour 
up there, dead or alive, then we’ll settle his 
shamming. 

Two sailors, seizing some loose line, ran up 
the foremast to where Ralph had sunk back in 
a swoon, overcome by the combined effects of 
illness and the terrors of his position. 

Lifting him to his feet, they bound him to the 
topmast ratlines so that his feet rested on the 
little platform. As they came down one said to 
the other: 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


149 


‘‘He ain’t shamming. The lad is sick enough 
for a doctor, that’s what ’e is, mate.” 

“Shet up,” quoth his companion. “Let the 
captain hear you and he’ll put you on bread and 
water for three days, if no worse comes. Every 
tub stands on its own bottom in this craft.” 

Meanwhile Neb had served breakfast in the 
cabin. Gary and Rucker went down. Duff tak- 
ing the first mate’s place. 

This was the second mate’s first voyage with 
Captain Gary, and he furtively sympathized 
with Ralph, but such is the force of discipline 
on shipboard that he dared not show his feel- 
ings openly. 

“It’s a burning shame,” thought he, “to pun- 
ish a land lubber of a boy the first day he ever 
spent at sea. Sugar wouldn’t melt in Gary’s 
mouth when I went to him for a job, but now 
the tune is changed. And to cap all, nobody 
seems to know where we’re bound, unless it may 
be Rucker. The crew know nothing, except 
that we’re provisioned for a long voyage, with 
a lot of stuff locked up in the hold as no one has 
seen yet.” 


150 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


He glanced up at the helpless boy, then 
shook his head. 

“Hut tut ! Are you sick of this cruise a’ready, 
Jacob Duff? This will never do. You’re in for 
it, so make the most of your luck, even if it 
turns out you do have a fiend for a skipper.” 

When Gary and his first officer returned, Duff 
went below. But as he ate, his thoughts re- 
verted so persistently to Ralph’s predicament 
that he grew impatient with himself. After 
finishing his meal he lay down in his berth and 
tried to sleep. Some time had elapsed when 
he was aroused by a sound of furious objurga- 
tion on deck. 

He rose, took his cap and crept up the com- 
panionway. Captain Gary was standing by the 
weather rail of the quarter deck, where with 
clenched hands and violent gestures, he was 
pouring forth a flood of profane vituperation 
such as Duff had seldom heard equaled. 

Before him was Ralph, still so weak as to re- 
quire the support which Long Tom was roughly 
giving him, yet gazing on his infuriated com- 
mander with a steady unflinching scorn. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


151 


“Tell me you won’t, eh?” stormed the captain, 
his feminine air and aspect completely lost in 
a mien of scowling ferocity. “By the living — 
but what’s the use of swearing! Down with 
him to the sweat box, and if that don’t tame 
him we’ll try the paddle afterward. 

“Captain Gary,” interrupted Ealph undaunt- 
edly, “if I had known you yesterday as I know 
you now, I’d have seen you dead before I’d a 
been here today. I’m weak, I know; you may 
tie and starve me, but if you ever have me 
beaten — make it a good job.” 

Gary seemed momentarily paralyzed at such 
independence, then out of sheer amazement 
hissed forth sneeringly: 

“Will your impudence tell me why?” 

“Because I’ll kill you!” exclaimed Ealph, 
with such concentrated energy of tone and ac- 
cent, that Duff trembled inwardly for the boy’s 
safety. “I know I’m in your power now, but 
I’d do it ten years from now if I had to wait so 
long. I never knew a mountain man to take a 
beating yet, without he got even — never!” 

Such unheard of insolence appeared to de- 


152 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


prive Gary of words wherewith to do the situa- 
tion justice. 

“You know what I want!” he roared at Blud- 
son, as he left the deck. “See that it is done!”. 

The boatswain at once collared Ralph and 
took him forward, where both disappeared in 
the forecastle. 

While this scene was being enacted, Rucker 
leaned against the stern rail idly picking his 
teeth, as his dull, hard eye glanced alternately 
from the vessel’s course to the parties most con- 
cerned. 

“What in heaven’s name is it all about?” 
asked Duff, when the two men were alone but 
for the man at the wheel, who appeared to give 
no heed. “What has the boy done?” 

“He’s too independent,” replied the first mate. 
“He can’t do nothing; he couldn’t even climb 
the fo’mast or walk the deck in a breeze. Such 
green uns has no business bein’ independent 
aboard ship. If I was captain I’d a had him 
triced up to the mast and the paddle a going 
afore now.” 

“The lad never saw a ship till yesterday. 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


153 


Isn’t it a little rough to expect him to find his 
sea legs in half an hour? He was seasick to 
boot.” 

^^Sea — thunder! You never sailed with Cap- 
tain Gary afore, did you?” Rucker regarded 
his junior with a peculiar smile. thought 
not. Well — I have. I’ll give you a pointer. 
He’d rather send this ship to the bottom any 
time than stand any nonsense. That’s him; 
and I’m sort o’ built that way myself.” 

Duff made no response, and soon returned to 
his stateroom, where he remained until his own 
watch was called. He was a good sailor and a 
nervy sort of a man, but there was something 
so peculiarly devilish in the contrast presented 
by Gary’s slight, feminine person and his ab- 
normal exhibition of rage that the second mate 
began to doubt whether he had done wisely in 
shipping with an unknown captain on an un- 
known voyage for the sake of mere high wages. 

He finally fell asleep until wakened by the 
sound of two bells being struck, followed by the 
hoarse cry of: 

^^Starb’d watch on deck, ahoy!” 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Bad Weather. 

When the second mate reached the deck the 
wind had freshened still more. In the south- 
west a low lying bank of slate colored cloud was 
slowly diffusing itself over that quarter of the 
heavens. 

Under its lower edge, was a coppery hued, 
wind streaked border, that glistened in a dull 
way. 

“The barometer is falling,” remarked Rucker 
as he prepared to go below. “We’re going to 
have a nasty spell, I guess. You might take a 
double reef in that jib if it gets worse. If there’s 
any shortnin’ of sail beyond that, call the cap- 
tain.” 

In his walk to and fro the second mate’s 
thoughts reverted to Ralph occasionally and he 
took pains later on, to ask Neb if the boy had 
had anything to eat. 


164 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


155 


“Nuttin’ but braid an’ water, sub. Capn’s 
orders.” 

“It’s a shame,” thought Duff. “The lad’s sick, 
so I don’t reckon he’s hungry; but he ought to 
have something more strengthening than that. 
I wonder what kind of a hole this sweat box 
is?” 

But as the weather grew worse, Mr. Duff’s 
attention was necessarily given entirely to the 
management of the vessel when on watch, and 
during his hours off, he usually slept away his 
fatigue. 

The storm that gradually rose lasted, with 
varying fury, for three days. The Curlew 
proved herself a stanch and buoyant craft, eas- 
ily controlled and as stiff under sail as a two 
decker. 

It was well for all hands that this was so, 
for the cyclone was a dangerous one, being a 
stray tempest from that center breeding place 
of storms, the West Indies. On the second day 
the two strong men who were required to steer 
had to be lashed to the wheel. Great combers 
occasionally swept the decks from bow to stern. 


156 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


After one of these the little schooner would rise, 
staggering not unlike a drunken man, the brine 
pouring in torrents from the scuppers, and the 
very hull quivering from the shock of the im- 
pact of those tons of water. 

The hatches were battened down and after 
the first day Captain Gary never left the deck. 
He had food and drink brought to him, as he 
swung to the weather shrouds, where he at 
times lashed himself, to avoid being washed 
overboard. 

He was the coolest man on the ship, never 
losing either presence of mind or a certain light- 
ness of spirits, totally unlike the apparently 
ungovernable fury that possessed him v^hen 
crossed by any one under his authority. His 
slight figure and gloved white hands seemed 
endowed with muscles of steel; he was, to all 
appearance, impervious to fatigue or fear. 

“He’s a sailor, right,” exclaimed Duff one day 
to Rucker, after Gary had brought the schooner 
unscathed through a mountainous wave that 
had threatened to overwhelm everything. “I 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


157 


will say this for him, he knows how to handle 
a ship.’’ 

should say!” declared the first mate. 
^There ain’t his ekal nowhere. I’ve sailed with 
him and I know.” 

When the weather moderated and the schoon- 
er, after being tidied uj), was plunging along 
with a double reefed fore and single reefed 
mainsail, and every one was breathing freely. 
Duff again thought of Ralph. 

^Toor fellow,” said he to himself, ^fit’s been 
tougher on him than any of us. He must have 
thought we were going to Davy Jones any time 
these three days.” 

Not long after this he saw Long Tom bearing 
away a covered tin dish from the galley, and 
hastened to join the boatswain. 

^Ts that the kid’s grub?” he demanded, tak- 
ing off the lid and surveying the contents. ^^Tis, 
eh? Well, see here, Bludson, I call it a crying 
shame. Bread and water still! Heave ahead. 
I am going to see what kind of a place this 
sweat box is.” 

The boatswain would have remonstrated, but 


168 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Duff ordered him on peremptorily. He led the 
way therefore to a trap door in the floor of the 
men’s quarters in the forecastle. 

Passing through this with a lighted lantern 
they pushed forward into the very bow of the 
vessel, where a small space — three cornered — 
was walled in. Inside was a form crouched in 
a corner. 

The whole area was a mere closet, not only 
pitch dark within, but several feet below water 
level and with but a couple of inches of plank- 
ing between a prisoner and the swashing, gurg- 
ling billows outside. 

“Ealph,” called Duff, “are you all right, my 
lad?” 

“Here, boy,” said Tom, setting down the tin 
vessel, “wake up and eat a bite. Mayhap cap’n 
will let you out before long. He’s in a good 
humor today.” 

But Ralph did not move. Duff raised him in 
his arms. 

The boy was insensible, either from fright, 
exhaustion, or the lack of suitable food. The 
mate’s anger rose within him like a torrent. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


159 


“This is simply brutal! — it is infamous. Lead 
the way out of here, bos’n; or — stay! Go to Cap- 
tain Gary and say that Mr. Duff wants him to 
come here right away.” 

“It’s as much as my life’s worth, sir.” 

“Go on I tell you!” Duff was white to the lips, 
“D’ye want to see murder done? This lad’s life 
is at stake, I say.” 

While Tom went off grumbling, the second 
mate bathed Ralph’s face with water from a 
jug he found, and chafed his hands. 

“Poor fellow! If I lose my job and am put 
here with him, I will speak out. The boy hasn’t 
had a decent thing to eat since he came 
aboard.” 

Presently the flicker of Tom’s lantern was 
seen again. The captain was behind him, and 
in no good humor over the message he had re- 
ceived. 

The dash and swirl of water outside was in- 
cessant and deafening. 

“Mr. Duff,” said Gary in his most grating 
tones, “who gave you the authority to interfere 


160 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


with my designs regarding this insolent young- 
ster?” 

Duff’s first reply was to bring Ralph’s pale, 
inanimate face under the light. 

“Captain Gary,” said he, “I profess to be a 
man — not a brute. I recognize your authority, 
but when I see murder about to be done — it’s 
time to say something.” 

The captain looked around as if to find a 
weapon wherewith to strike his subordinate 
down, while in his eye shone a dull spark. He 
did not look at Ralph, but controlled himself 
by a mighty effort. 

“Of course,” he was able to say at last, “if 
the kid is in any danger, that alters the state of 
the case. But I dare say he is shamming.” 

“Shamming! Look at his eyes; feel of his 
pulse.” 

The captain declined these offices. He bit 
his nether lip instead and regarded Duff in a 
peculiar way, as the latter continued his efforts 
to resuscitate the boy. 

“We have no ship’s doctor on board as you 
know,” said Gary. “However, take him to a 



“Mr. Duff,” said Gary in his most grating tones, “who gave 
you the authority to interfere with my designs 
regarding this insolent youngster ? ” 










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RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


161 


bunk in the men’s quarters and tell the cook to 
make him some broth. He’ll come round; then 
we will see how he behaves. Do you under- 
stand, Mr. Dufe?” 

“Aye, aye, sir. Give the boy a chance and I 
think he will come out all right.” 

Here Ralph showed signs of animation. He 
twisted himself as if in pain, then mnttered: 

“If he beats me I — I — shall — kill him! Shan’t 
I — grandpa? You drove — me — away — cause I 

wouldn’t — cause I — wouldn’t ” He became 

unintelligible for a moment, but finally burst 
forth with feeble energy again. “Let him 
starve me — shut me up — but — let him keep his 
hands off — hands off.” 

The dull spark in Captain Gary’s eyes seemed 
to enlarge and twinkle as the boy uttered these 
words in a semi-drowsy, spasmodic way. Pres- 
ently the partially rolled up eyes opened in a 
natural manner and blinked feebly at the light. 

At this juncture a loud cry was heard from 
aloft of: 

“S-a-i-1 h-o!” 

11 


162 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


The captain turned away as if the interrup- 
tion were a welcome one to him. 

“Stow that lad and see to him,” he repeated, 
then added sternly: “Be assured of one thing, 
Mr. Duff, I will not forget your part in this af- 
fair.” 

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied the second mate, as 
the captain walked off. 


CHAPTER XV. 


Boarded by a Cruiser. 

Ralph was borne up into the men’s quarters 
and placed in one of the most comfortable 
bunks. 

Pretty soon down came Neb with a steaming 
dish of stewed chicken, and a good supply of 
broth. This, with a ship’s buiscuit and a cup 
of coffee, were fed slowly to the lad by one of 
the sailors, until he was strong enough to help 
himself. 

“That’s cabin grub, lad,” remarked the sailor. 
“Second mate ordered it himself.” 

Ralph, with the horror of those three days of 
darkness, and pitching, and churning seas still 
upon him, thanked his stars that he seemed to 
have one friend on board. 

Meanwhile, on deck all hands were watching 
the approach of a large steamship that was 


163 


164 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


bearing down npon the Curlew to windward. 
The schooner was sailing with the wind abeam. 

Presently the captain, who was examining 
the stranger through a glass, ordered the helms- 
man to “ease away a bit.” 

The Curlew fell off more before the wind, 
when it was seen that the steamer slightly 
changed her course so as to meet the altered 
movements of the schooner. 

Gary and Rucker now put their heads to- 
gether, then the first mate, summoning the 
boatswain, disappeared below. 

“Hold her up a little, Mr. Duff,” said the cap- 
tain to the second officer, who was once more 
at his post. “She is a man of war, I think, and 
though I have no love for their prying ways, we 
must not seem to want to avoid her, now that 
she evidently intends to speak us.” 

So the schooner’s head was put to windward, 
and the two vessels rapidly drew near each 
other. 

It could soon be seen that the stranger was 
an armored cruiser, of great power and speed. 

“Run up the Stars and Stripes,” said Gary. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


165 


“Let him see what we are. Perhaps he’ll be 
satisfied and pass on.” 

This was done, but evoked no response from 
the cruiser, now less than a mile away. Sud- 
denly the warship swung gracefully around, 
showing along her dull gray side a row of guns, 
while over bow and stern loomed two immense 
cannon of a caliber sufficient to sink the Cur- 
lew at a single discharge. 

Several little fiags followed one another up 
to the cruiser’s mastheads. 

“Get out the code, Mr. Duff,” ordered the 
captain. “He’s signaling. What in the mis- 
chief can he want?” 

Duff plunged into the cabin, reappearing a 
moment later with the signal book. Opening 
this, he compared the flags as seen through the 
glass with similar ones in the book, and their 
meanings. 

“Well?” said the. captain impatiently. 

“He orders us to heave to under his quarter. 
Says he is going to send a boat aboard. 

“The deuce he is! Well, I suppose we might 
as well do as he says. Strikes me as a pretty 


166 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


high handed proceeding though, in time of 
peace. Look! There go his colors at last. 
British, by thunder!’’ 

As the cross of St. George unfolded to the 
breeze. Captain Gary, looking somewhat anx- 
ious, bade Duff obey the cruiser’s order; then 
hastened below in the wake of his first mate 
and boatswain. 

By the time the Curlew had rounded to, a 
boat was leaving the warship’s side as she lay 
broadside, hardly a quarter of a mile off. 
Though the sea was still rough, six pair of oars 
brought the boat spinning over the waves. 

Two officers were in the stern sheets, one of 
whom — a young third lieutenant — was soon on 
the deck of the schooner. 

At this juncture Captain Gary reappeared, 
followed by Eucker. Long Tom had already 
gone forward. 

“What schooner is this?” demanded the of- 
ficer, after the first salutations had passed. 

“I should like to know first what right you 
have to ask that question,” replied Gary in his 
most suave manner. “These are times of peace. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


167 


when every one is privileged to attend to his 
own affairs, I believe.” 

“Yes, when his affairs are not injurious to 
others. There is surely no harm in asking a 
vessel’s name.” 

“Is it customary to stop them on the high 
seas, and send a boat aboard to find out?” 

“Well, yes — under certain circumstances.” 
The lieutenant smiled. “Especialy so when we 
are under orders to that effect. To be plain, 
sir, we suspect you of being engaged in an un- 
lawful enterprise.” 

As may be supposed, Duff was paying the 
closest attention, for he and most others on 
board had shipped, not knowing the object of 
the voyage, but tempted by the high wages. 

“You do, eh.” It was Gary’s turn to smile 
now. “You men o’ war’s men often make mis- 
takes as well as other people. This is the Cur- 
lew, four days out of Savannah, in ballast, and 
bound for Bermuda.” 

“You are clear out of your course, if that is 
the case.” 


168 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“The storm did that for us. We had a three 
days’ siege of it.” 

“Well, let me see your papers and take a look 
through the hold. It can do no harm.” 

“None in the least,” replied the captain. 

He then ordered the main hatch opened as he 
escorted the officer down to the cabin in order 
to inspect the ship’s papers. 

Rucker followed. Duff, impelled by curiosity, 
watched the opening of the hatch, which had 
remained closely sealed ever since he had been 
aboard. 

An apparently empty hold was all that re- 
warded his eye, except for the usual stores and 
provisions necessary for a long voyage. 

“If Bermuda is really our port, we’ve got grub 
enough, and to spare,” thought he as he re- 
turned to the quarter-deck. 

Meanwhile the lieutenant, after a thorough 
inspection of the hold, returned to the open air. 
He still seemed nnsatisfied, and cast curious 
glances here and there over the vessel’s trim 
proportions. Finally he gave it up. 

“Your papers seem to be all right,” he said. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


169 


“and you certainly have no cargo, though you 
are provisioned for a voyage round the world, I 
should say.” 

“Barrels of meal,” said the captain. “My 
owner had a lot on hand, and thought it might 
fetch a better price in the Bermudas than at 
home. We can trade it for potatoes.” 

“Well, I wish you success,” added the officer, 
pausing at the ladder, and touching his cap to 
Gary and the mates. “Pardon whatever incon- 
venience we may have occasioned.” 

He went down the side, the boat pulled back 
to the cruiser, and the latter steamed away 
westward. 

The Curlew, holding east, soon helped to place 
her dangerous neighbor hull down, when Cap- 
tain Gary gave the order for all hands to be 
summoned aft. The crew came tumbling back 
into the waist, a swarthy, brawny, reckless look- 
ing set of men. Two of them brought Ralph up 
and set him down on a coil of rope. 

The warm meal, the sight of human faces, 
the sounds of life and light, had already re- 
newed his strength and spirits. He was no 


170 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


longer so ill, and the bright sunlight and the 
heaving waves sent a sort of thrill through him. 
The sea was not all terrible after all. 

‘‘Now, men,” began the captain, when all had 
assumed a decorous silence, “what do you think 
that war ship supposed we were?” 

There was no reply to this, though the men 
looked at each other, then turned to their com- 
mander, as if expecting an answer. The cap- 
tain broke into a harsh laugh. 

“Why,” he continued, “they thought this ship 
was the famous slaver, the Wanderer. I guess 
you’ve all heard of the Wanderer.” 

Yes, they had. Duff noticed that Rucker and 
Long Tom were the only two who seemed to be 
indifferent to this announcement. 

One or two of the sailors winked at each other 
as if the news that was to come would not be 
very much of a surprise, after all. 

“We are so far advanced on our way,” con- 
tinued the captain, “that I have concluded to 
let you know who and what we are and where 
we are bound. In case we are liable to another 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


171 


overhauling you can better assist in throwing 
the intermeddlers off the true scent. 

“We fooled them this time, but that was be- 
cause the boarding officer was a-green one. If 
an old hand at the business comes aboard it 
may be necessary to chuck him over the side 
and run for it. Therefore it is right you should 
know things, in order the more intelligently to 
obey orders. 

“This schooner is the Wanderer, men. You 
have shipped on the Wanderer, bound for the 
coast of Guinea after negroes for the Cuba mar- 
ket. How' does that suit you? 

“If there are any grumblers, speak up. You’ve 
got high wages, light work, good grub, and a 
chance — if you stand by the ship — to share in 
the profits at the end of the voyage. Now, what 
d’ye say?” 

There was some muttering and laying of 
heads together on the part of the crew, then 
one old salt pulled off his cap, ducked his head, 
and after carefully transferring a quid of to- 
bacco from his mouth to his pocket, said: 

“If so be the rest don’t care, I don’t. If so be 


172 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


some on us had knowed afore we shipped what 
kind of cargo we was after, we might have 
thought twice afore we signed. Niggers is nig- 
gers. Some say they is humans, some say they 
ain’t. But this here shippin’ ’em like two legged 
cattle be mighty resky nowadays. Less’n we 
make a heap.” 

“Oh, you shut up!” interrupted the captain, 
laughing. “All the scruples any of you have 
is concerning the money there is in the cruise. 
Am I right?” 

“Well, a man’s obleeged to look out for num- 
ber one, cap’n,” responded the fellow, falling 
back and restoring his quid to his left jaw. 

Ralph seemed about to speak, but as Gary’s 
cold, hard eye fell on the lad, prudence bade 
him hold his peace. Besides he did not more 
than half comprehend the nature of the cap- 
tain’s explanation. 

The face of the second mate was a picture of 
disgust and irresolution. He said nothing, how- 
ever, until the captain went below. Then he 
followed. 

“Captain Gary,” said he, when the two were 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


173 


alone in the cabin, “you should have had my 
right hand sooner than have got me off on such 
a cruise had I known its object before I signed 
with you.” 

“I know you,” replied Gary somewhat scorn- 
fully. “You have just about conscience enough 
not to violate your word when the sacrifice 
would be too great. Of course you don’t ap- 
prove. I never asked for your approval; 
wouldn’t give a cent for it if I had it. But you 
signed — for high wages — to go wherever I 
choose to sail. Is not that so?” 

“In one sense, yes. But a slaver now is little 
better than a pirate. You should have been 
more open.” 

“And you less greedy for money. I say you 
are in for it. There is no chance to secure an- 
other mate, and I intend to see that you do your 
duty.” 


CHAPTER XVI. 


Nearing the Gold Coast. 

The two men regarded each other steadily for 
a moment, then the mate heaved a sigh. 

“I don’t care for your threats,” said he. “It’s 
that same conscience of mine which you think 
so little of that troubles me. As long as I am 
your second mate I shall do my duty. But I 
give you fair warning: when we get to port, if 
there is another ship where a man can get a job 
I shall leave you.” 

“You’ll leave without your pay, then,” re- 
torted the captain. 

Duff, without replying, left the cabin. He 
had explained his sentiments, and that was all 
he could do at present. In his succeeding round 
of ship inspection he was halted in the fore- 
castle by Ralph, who had lain down again. 

“Oh, Mr. Duff, won’t you please explain to me 
174 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


175 


what the captain meant when he said we were 
bound after negroes for the Cuban market.” 

“It’s plain as your nose, my lad. We are go- 
ing to the west coast of Africa — somewhere 
about the Congo, I guess. There we take on a 
load of Gold Coast darkies, fetch ’em over to 
Cuba, run ’em in after night, then get away — 
if we can. If we get captured we’ll all get a 
term in Morro Castle or some other Spanish 
hole, and lose everything we’ve got. Oh, it’s a 
nasty business the ” 

Here Mr. Duff broke off, remembering that 
he was saying too much before a cabin boy. But 
Ralph detained him by the sleeve. 

“I thought the negroes were all freed.” 

“At home they are. But in Cuba and Brazil 
they are not, although the prospect is that they 
will be set at liberty before long. The best 
sentiment of the world is against slavery, you 
know.’ 

“And what we’re up to is worse than all the 
rest, isn’t it?” 

“Yes; it is a vile business. But look here, my 
lad. Whether you like the job or not, you’ve 


176 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


shipped, and that means everything on ship- 
board. Make the best of it while you’re with 
us; when you’re away it’s another thing.” 

“If you think so badly of it,” persisted Ralph, 
“why did you ship, Mr. Duff?” 

“Because, like most of the others, I went it 
blind for the sake of high wages. I had an idea 
we were on a smuggling trip. I suppose you 
were too green to know anything.” 

“I left everything to Captain Gary. But I 
say, Mr. Duff, I think with you that it is a low, 
mean business.” 

“H-s-s-h!” The mate made a warning gesture 
and turned away, just as Mr. Rucker thrust 
his bushy beard down the fore hatch, preceded 
by his burly legs and body. 

The first officer looked sharply at Ralph as 
the boy lay in his hammock, which he had at 
last slung. 

“You’ll report for duty in the cabin tomor- 
row, my lad,” said he. “Captain’s orders. 
There won’t be much shirking on this ship, 
whether or no.” 

After the storm, the wind and weather re- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


177 


mained fair for many days, during wiiich the 
Wanderer (as she was now called) glided into 
the tropics, and justified her fame on the score 
of speed. 

One day a cry of ^‘Land ho!” was raised. Half 
an hour later the irregular heights of the Cape 
Verde Islands began to be visible from the 
deck. But the schooner bore away to the south- 
east and no close view was obtained. 

It was a lonely voyage. Scarcely any vessels 
were passed, and the captain avoided these in 
so far as he could. It was his policy to follow 
a route as little traveled as possible. 

The glaring sun, bright skies, and even trade 
winds of these regions were like a new world to 
Ralph. At night the extreme brilliancy of the 
stars, framed in new and strange constellations, 
and the vivid play of phosphorescent waves, 
kept him on deck with Mr. Duff at times for 
hours. 

These two, though so widely separated by 
rank, were congenial in a furtive way. Perhaps 

the mutual knowledge that both so heartily dis- 
12 


178 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


approved of the object of the voyage, was a sub- 
tle link between them. 

Though awkward enough at first, Ralph per- 
severed so faithfully in acquiring a knowledge 
of his new duties, that he slowly won the ap- 
proval of every one on board, unless it might 
have been the captain. Gary preserved a sphinx- 
like attitude, never sparing the boy, never prais- 
ing him, nor manifesting by any sign an atom 
of that feminine graciousness of manner that 
had on shore first won the lad over. 

But Ralph’s growing proficiency in a sea- 
man’s tasks was such, that on Rucker’s advice, 
he was put before the mast altogether, after 
one of the sailors had broken several ribs by 
falling from aloft during a squall. The in- 
jured man, as soon as he was able, took Ralph’s 
place in the cabin. 

As they approached the African coast, alter- 
nate fogs and calms delayed their progress 
somewhat. The fogs were a protection from 
prying vessels, but the calms proved to be an 
unmitigated nuisance. 

The ocean would be like shining glass be- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


179 


neath a vertical shower of the sun’s rays that, 
at times, rendered the deck almost unendur- 
able. Awnings were stretched and for hours 
and even days the Wanderer would lie almost 
motionless, except for the impalpable swell 
from which the bosom of the sea is never en- 
tirely free. 

One dull, damp morning, when the decks were 
slippery with moisture and a curtain of mist 
veiled everything beyond a hundred yards, 
Ralph, who was in the foretop on the lookout, 
fancied that he detected a sound somewhat 
different from the usual noises surrounding a 
vessel even in a calm. 

They were nearing the land, as the captain’s 
last reckoning showed, yet soundings taken not 
half an hour previous, had discovered no bot- 
tom at a depth of several hundred feet. Ralph 
called to a sailor below to ask the second mate 
to come forward. 

“Well, what now. Granger?” demanded Duff 
from the main deck. 

Ralph had hardly explained, before the mate 
sprang up the rigging to the lad’s side. The 


180 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


trained ear of the officer instantly divined what 
might be the matter. 

“Down with you, Ralph,” said he, hurrying 
to the deck himself. “Pipe up all hands and 
shorten sail!” he shouted to the boatswain, 
then emerging from the forecastle. “Lively 
now!” 

The schooner was under full canvas, with 
the purpose of making the most of what little 
air might be stirring. A moment before, the 
most profound repose was reigning, but with 
the shrill call that instantly rang out, all was 
changed to a scene of the most intense activity. 

Men came tumbling up to join the watch on 
deck in lowering two of the jibs, and reefing a 
third, w’hile the great fore and aft sails were 
reduced to less than half their size in a twink- 
ling. 

Orders came sharp and fast, three seamen in 
each top were hastily lowering and lashing the 
topsails, when the sound heard by Ralph, and 
which had rapidly increased to a sputtering 
roar, was split as it were by a crash of thunder. 

The fog melted away like a dissolving dream, 


RALPH GRANGERS FORTUNES. 


181 


showing beyond the burst of sunlight, a cop- 
pery cloud that swept the ocean to windward, 
driving before it a line of hissing foam. 

By this time captain and first mate were up. 
The Wanderer lay without headway, though 
bobbing slowly as a slight whiff of air' stirred 
the fiattened mainsail. 

^^Meet her! Meet her, Mr. Duff!’^ shouted 
Gary, instantly realizing the coming peril. 

The men were tumbling from the tops, Ralph 
among the last, for though ordered down by 
the considerate mate, he returned with the 
others when the topsails were to be stowed. 

Duff and two old hands were at the wheel; 
others were lashing loose articles, when with 
a scream and a screech, the squall was upon 
them. 

At that season and on that coast, these sud- 
den commotions are especially treacherous and 
full of peril. Coming, as it were from nowhere, 
either on the heels of fog or calm, their advent 
is doubly dreaded by the unwary mariner. 
When the blast struck the schooner, over she 
heeled, and in a trice the lee scuppers were 


182 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


seething with brine. Each man clung to some- 
thing for life, as the deck sloped like a house 
roof. 

“Ease her! Ease her!” roared the captain 
from the main weather bobstays. “For your 
lives, men! Shove her nose up in the wind.” 

The scud, as it struck the port bow, flew like 
shot across the deck. So acute was the shriek 
of the wind, even shouted orders could hardly 
be heard. 

The Wanderer, trembling like a living thing, 
slowly — at first almost imperceptibly — rose 
from the blows hammering at her sides like 
thunder. There was a long moment of intense, 
even agonizing suspense, then she began to 
forge ahead, buffeted, battered, heeling dizzily 
still to leeward, yet — saved, for the time being 
at least. 

“That was a close call, captain,” remarked 
Duff as the two stood together five minutes 
later, clinging to the weather shrouds. 

“I should say so. Who first heard the thing 
coming?” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


183 


“Young Granger, I believe. There’s good stuff 
in that lad, I make bold to say.” 

These words shouted into Gary’s ear, for the 
squall was still at its height, caused a deep 
scowl to settle on the captain’s brow. He 
turned away without a word. 

“Gary doesn’t like that boy for some reason,” 
was the mate’s inward comment. “I wonder 
why?” 

After twenty minutes of wind so furious that 
the sea was fairly flattened, the squall ceased 
almost as suddenly as it had begun, before the 
great ocean billows had time to rise. But in 
that short interval a jib had been blown into 
ribbons and the foresail torn loose from its 
treble reefing points. A great rent was made by 
its violent flappings before it could be again se- 
cured. In the struggle one man was knocked 
insensible, so severe were the surgings of the 
boom, as the heavy canvas jarred the whole 
ship with its cannon-like reports. 

One result was a fair after breeze and a clear 
sky. The schooner bowled along at a nine knot 


184 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


gait, while the men worked cheerily to repair 
the slight injuries occasioned by the squall. 

That day the trailing smoke of a steamer was 
indistinctly seen in the southern horizon. The 
helm was instantly put about and the Wan- 
derer hauled up on a northeast course, which 
was maintained all day. 

The captain and first mate took careful reck- 
onings more than once, verifying each other’s 
castings of their latitude and longitude. It be- 
came generally understood that land was close 
at hand and an air of expectancy became gen- 
eral on board. 

The succeeding night was cloudless in the 
earlier part. Later on a mist slowly inclosed 
them as they neared the coast. 

Ralph sat up late, for he was vaguely excited 
at the prospect of beholding what was to him a 
new world. But he gave out at last and turned 
in, intending, however, to be on deck at the first 
notice of land. Youth sleeps sound, and his next 
conscious sensation was that of being rudely 
shaken. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


185 


“On deck with you, boy,” said the sailor who 
had roused him. “Going to snooze all day?” 

He leaped from his hammock, and ran up the 
companionway. Then an exclamation of as- 
tonishment burst from his lips. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


Up the River. 

The Wanderer lay in a small, land locked 
harbor, densely surrounded by a strange and 
wonderful growth of forest, that completely 
concealed the shore behind. 

Near by, though hidden beyond a neck of 
land, one could hear the roar of breakers. At 
the opposite extremity, the harbor was elong- 
ated, as if some stream Avere entering beneath 
a giant growth of overhanging foliage. 

The little bay was no more than a quarter of 
a mile across, nor was there any sign of human 
presence other than that presented by the 
schooner and her crew. She was anchored mid- 
stream, and Ralph could perceive a sluggish, 
muddy current making towards an inlet that 
was partially concealed by several small islets, 
densely covered by mangroves. 


186 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


187 


‘‘Granger, I want you,” said the second mate 
from the quarter deck. “Take three hands and 
make ready the ship’s yawl alongside.” 

In obedience to this, Ralph, with the requisite 
aid, soon had the large boat that rested amid- 
ships, swinging by a painter to the schooner’s 
side. Mr. Dufl' then directed two pair of oars, 
a keg of water and some cooked provisions and 
bedding to be placed aboard. 

“I Mmnt you, Ralph, and you, Ben, to go 
along.” 

The Ben to whom the mate alluded was a 
broadfaced Englishman, who had been the 
spokesman on the occasion when Gary had 
made known to the crew the object and destina- 
tion of his voyage. He had expressed himself 
once or twice since then unfavorably, to his 
mates, and had been rebuked by Long Tom in 
consequence. 

Duff disappeared below, but soon returned 
with three Winchester rifles and the same num- 
ber of cutlasses. He handed one of each to the 
other two, saying to Ralph : 

“I guess you can shoot, can’t you? I hear you 


188 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


mountaineers are hard to beat with a long 
rifle.” 

“I can shoot a squirrel’s head off with grand- 
father’s old gun four times out of flve. But this 
here short, double barreled thing don’t look 
good for much.” 

Duff laughed, then briefly explained the pur- 
pose of the magazine and showed him how to 
work the mechanism. Ralph, though still du- 
bious, said nothing, and resolved to test for 
himself the wonderful qualities of the modern 
breech loader, which the average mountaineer 
distrusts in proportion to his ignorance. 

The boy noticed that the most of the crew, 
together with the captain and first mate, were 
absent. Only Bludson, with three or four sail- 
ors, were left on board, after Duff and his boat- 
men were pulling towards the mouth of the 
river above. 

“Now, lads,” said Long Tom, “look alive. 
We’ve got to get the hold ready against cap’n 
gets back with the first batch. We’re rid of 
the squeamish ones, I reckon. ’Fore they come 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


189 


in with their meat we’ll be loaded; that is, 
s’posin’ they shov/ up in time.” 

The boatswain gi’inned in a knowing, mirth- 
less way, that his assistants seemed to under- 
stand, for they responded in kind. The main 
hatch was then opened and an iron grating sub- 
stituted. 

Between the main hold and the cabin was a 
strong bulkhead with a double door, strongly 
barred and padlocked. This was thrown open 
and a four pound howitzer mounted in the 
gangway in such a manner that when the upper 
half of the door was thrown open, the gun could 
rake the hold from end to end. 

Water butts were set up where water could 
be handed inside by the bucket. Prom store 
rooms on either side of the gangway, long 
chains with short fetters attached at intervals 
were brought out and stretched across the hold 
about seven feet apart and about a foot from 
the floor. Ankle cuffs that closed with spring 
locks were attached to these fetters. 

In these storerooms were placed the barrels 
of provisions that had deceived the lieutenant. 


190 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Then Bludson and his assistants passed the 
next few hours in throwing overboard the bal- 
last that had been stowed at Tybee Island in 
far away America. 

Meanwhile Duff and his companions entered 
the river, which seemed to be a small stream 
flowing deviously through a low, half swampy 
region, where insects swarmed and many kinds 
of strange animals and bird life were to be seen. 

Ralph, to try his Winchester, shot at a blue 
heron on the wing and made the feathers fly. 

“Try it again,” urged Duff sharply. “Quick 
now.” 

A second shot brought down the bird, and 
Ralph’s opinion of breech loaders was raised 
at once. 

For several hours they pulled up stream, the 
mate taking his turn at the oars with the oth- 
ers. The trees rose to a gigantic height, while 
the interlacing undergrowth was at some places 
impenetrable. 

About eleven they halted, mooring the boat 
to a fallen tree half imbedded in the water. 
Deep shadows from the overhanging foliage 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


191 


screened them from the now scorching sunlight. 

After a lunch on dried beef and biscuit, the 
mate suggested a siesta for an hour or two until 
it should be cool enough to proceed. Ealph 
volunteered to keep watch, though there did 
not seem to be much necessity for vigilance. The 
whole vast forest and all life within its folds 
appeared to be steeped in tropical midday re- 
pose. 

“Well,” said the mate, as he and Ben be- 
stowed themselves in the bottom of the boat on 
some blankets, “if you get too sleepy call Ben. 
We’ll have to cover our heads on account of 
these wretched gnats and mosquitos.” 

While the two slumbered, Ealph amused him- 
self at first by examining the mechanism of his 
Winchester. Tiring of this he fell into a rev- 
erie so deep that he hardly realized that he was 
dozing until roused to wakefulness by a slight 
pressure upon his hat, which was pulled for- 
ward over his eyes. 

His first impulse was to start up, but a long, 
skeleton leg with tiny claws at the end — hor- 
ribly hairy in a miniature way — slowly pro- 


192 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


truded over the front brim of his headgear, 
sending a curdling chill through his veins as he 
wondered what kind of a creature its owner 
might be. 

Thoughts of the strange, poisonous insects of 
abnormal size, which he had read of as being 
common in certain warm countries, coursed 
through his mind. If he stirred, the thing 
might claw or bite, and the merest scratch was 
said, in some kinds of these venomous species, 
to be fatal. 

He dared not move, but lay there in a sort of 
physical coma, though with every nerve strung 
to the point of agonized apprehension. 

After feeling first with one claw, then an- 
other, the creature began to descend. The first 
touch upon his face was indescribably loath- 
some to Ralph, and as its round, egg-like body 
came in view, he closed his eyes and held his 
breath. 

Down to his breast the thing crawled, while 
the skin of his face prickled sharply under an 
imaginary pain. Then he opened his eyes and 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


193 


beheld a gigantic spider slowly making its way 
down his clothing. 

With a body quite as large as the egg of a 
hen, and legs in proportion, it moved slowly, in 
a groping manner, as if uncertain of its where- 
abouts. Ralph fancied he could see its dull, 
cruel eyes. He lay as if dead, until the thing 
had left his person, then recovered his breath 
and courage by a vigorous inhalation. 

But upon his first move the creature ran 
along the bottom of the boat with extraordin- 
ary rapidity, and thence along Ben’s blanket 
and body, pausing only as it reached the sail- 
or’s now uncovered head. 

There it seemed to look back at Ralph, who 
did not dare attempt to kill it, lest it should 
attack Ben. To his horror the sailor stirred 
and opened his eyes drowsily. 

“Ben,” whispered Ralph, “for goodness sake 
don’t move, as you value your life. Do as I tell 
you. It — it may bite you, if you stir.” 

Ben felt the creature as the boy had done. 
He lay shivering. 

Slowly the great insect turned and made its 
13 


194 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


way from the sailor’s neck to the flooring, then 
up the side of the boat. Ralph, seizing a rope’s 
end, struck a furious blow, but missed. With 
lightning-like speed the spider ran up the side 
of the boat, sprang upon the water where it 
floated like a feather, and pushed towards 
shore. 

But Ben had seized an oar and now came 
down with a splash that sent a shower of spray 
about and momentarily blinded them both. 

“There! Look yonder, Ben!” cried Ralph. 
“Confound the luck!” 

The spider was swiftly crawling up the bank, 
where it quickly disappeared beneath a tussock. 

“That beats all the creatures I ever seen,” 
said Ben. “He must be the great grandfather 
of all the spiders hereabout.” 

Mr. Duff, also awakened by the noise, now 
suggested that it was time they were going on. 
While proceeding up stream Ralph related his 
own and Ben’s experience with the spider, 
whereat the mate laughed heartily. 

“I am familiar with the species,” said he. 
“True, they do look scary enough, but, strange 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


195 


to say, they are perfectly harmless. Instead of 
teeth, their mouth is supplied with a kind of 
suction apparatus by which they suck the blood 
from smaller insects. But they cannot bite, nor 
is their touch poisonous. There are other, 
smaller kinds of spiders about here, however, 
whose bite is fatal.” 

“We were jist as bad scared as if it had been 
a rattlesnake,” returned Ben. “I could feel me 
bloomin’ hair turnin’ gray when the thing was 
cocked upon me shoulder.” 

Towards night they came to a dozen or more 
small huts made of palm leaves and elephant 
grass, from which issued a number of nearly 
naked blacks, who made the air hideous with 
shouts of welcome. 

Here was where they were to trade for fresh 
meat and vegetables — the object of their river 
trip. 

One tall savage, with a pair of bullock’s horns 
as a head dress, and with his hair reeking with 
grease, coiled round the same, appeared to be 
the head man of the village. 

He wore a long red flannel shirt as an addi- 


196 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


tional badge of dignity. The rest, men as well 
as women, wore little else but cloths about the 
loins. 

They were a jolly, sociable set though, and 
gave our party a hut to themselves, after sup- 
plying them with a bountiful supper of “meal- 
ies,” bull beef, and a kind of bread made from 
ground maize and the grated buds of the cab- 
bage palm. 

After that Mr. Duff and the chief began a la- 
borious trade for meat and vegetables that 
lasted for an hour or more, and was carried on 
principally by signs and gestures. Some red 
blankets, beads, and cheap hand mirrors con- 
stituted the offers on the part of the mate. 

In this way several bushels of potatoes and a 
lot of green corn were secured and placed by 
the natives in the yawl. Meanwhile another 
party, taking torches, proceeded to a corral near 
by, and slaughtered a fat ox, with great dex- 
terity. This, in its turn, was placed in the boat, 
after which all hands prepared to turn in. 

“One of us must sleep in the yawl,” remarked 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


197 


Duff, “and I guess it ought to be the lightest 
sleeper.” 

Ben volunteered, saying that he would 
waken, as he expressed it, “at the bat of a cat’s 
eye.” 

Leaving Ben in the boat with a blanket and 
Winchester, the other two retired to the hut 
prepared for their reception, and lay down, as 
they thought, for the night. Duff was soon 
asleep, but Ralph remained wakeful. 

To add to his restlessness he soon found his 
blankets alive with fleas, from which these na- 
tive huts are hardly ever free. After flghting 
and scratching for an hour or more, he got up 
and returned to the open air for relief. 

The scene was both weird and dismal. The 
small clearing, densely walled in by the forest 
where the trees sprang nearly two hundred feet 
in the air, seemed to be stifling under the com- 
pression, though the feeling was but the result- 
ing languor of a tropic night without a breeze. 
Sundry strange and melancholy calls issued in 
varying cadences from the wilderness, and an 
occasional splash from the river denoted the 


198 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


passage of some huge marine animal, Croco- 
diies were bellowing sullenly up stream, and 
from the closed huts issued the sounds of heavy 
slumber, 

He was thinking it strange that no one 
should remain on guard amid a life so savage 
and isolated as that of these simple people, 
when he was aroused by a touch on his arm, as 
he sat musing on a log before the embers of 
their fire. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


A Brush in the Wilderness. 

Ralph leaped to his feet and presented his 
ready rifle. But it was only Ben. The sailor’s 
rugged face wore a look of alarm. 

“I’m glad ye’re up,” was his first remark. “I 
don’t like the look of things, though what’s stir- 
rin’ is more nor I can make out.” 

“What have you seen — or heard, for that mat- 
ter? One can’t see much under this wall of 
woods all about.” 

“Divil a bit! So I pricked up me ears for 
list’nin. The crocydiles kep’ up such a hulla- 
baloo I could hardly hear meself think, but 
somehow I caught on to the sound of paddles 
a goin’. Hist now! Can’t ’e hear that?” 

They were at one edge of the village, which 
was not defended by a kraal, or stockade, as is 
often the custom where enemies are feared. The 
199 


200 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


dense forest undergrowth was not over thirty 
yards away. 

They could now hear certain stealthy sounds, 
as of some one or something moving within the 
timber. 

‘‘I will wake Mr. Duff,” whispered Kalph. 
“You go back to the boat, Ben. They may see 
us by the fire.” 

The sailor returned to his post. The lad soon 
had the mate awake, listening to his explana- 
tion of their uneasiness. 

“I will rouse the chief,” replied Duff. “You 
had better rejoin Ben and wait for me there. 
If some enemy is really prowling around, our 
first duty, after alarming these people, is to 
defend our boat.” 

“Hadn’t I better remain with you?” sug- 
gested Ralph, with the idea that the greatest 
danger was in lingering on shore. 

“You had better obey orders, lad,” returned 
the mate, not unkindly, however. 

Ralph accordingly gathered the bedding in a 
bundle and stole down to the boat, the bow of 
which was drawn upon the gravelly bank. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


201 


Hardly had he reached it when a series of hide- 
ous yells issued from the forest on every side, 
and a rush of unknown forms could be dimly 
seen making for the huddle of huts near the 
river. 

Other figures of men, women, and children, 
naked and all but defenseless, emerged from 
their egg-shaped shelters, some fighting as best 
they could, others flying, and all apparently 
surrounded by a band of vociferous demons. 

“Ben,” called Ralph, “keep the boat with 
your gun. I must go and see what has become 
of Mr. Duff.” 

He sprang ashore, but had hardly climbed 
the bank when the mate appeared rifle in hand, 
cool and collected. 

“They are surprised by some predatory party 
of savages,” said Duff. “I don’t think there are 
much if any firearms on either side, however. I 
think we had better help, our dusky friends, 
don’t you, boys? They’ve treated us white 
enough.” 

This was assented to, and the three crawled 
through the tall grass to the verge of the vib 


202 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


lage, where more of a massacre than a battle 
was now going on. 

The villagers were taken at a sad disadvan- 
tage, and were surrounded evidently by super- 
ior numbers. The red-shirted chief was on the 
point of being clubbed by one tall savage, while 
desperately engaged with another. Ralph, see- 
ing this, leveled his gun with a swiftness that 
came of long practice amid the wilds of his na- 
tive Hiawassee. 

“Well done!’’ exclaimed the mate, as, after 
a sharp report, the negro with a club dropped 
his weapon and hopped away with a ball in his 
shoulder. “Now, let us spread out ten paces or 
so apart and advance. Pump the balls into ’em, 
boys, but don’t hit our black friends.” 

“How can we tell which is which when they’re 
all alike as two ha’pence?” growled Ben, but he 
received no answer, as both Mr. Duff and Ralph 
were intent on the duty before them. 

The crack of the Winchesters soon diverted 
attention from the villagers to an extent that 
enabled them to recover somewhat from their 





Ralph’s Winchester cracked and the raised arm fell shattered and useless 




RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


203 


panic. The rapid hail of balls that hardly ever 
missed their aim disconcerted the enemy. 

The three whites, acting under Duffys orders, 
kept back in the tall elephant grass at the edge 
of the huts; but also within close and deadly 
range. Some of the blacks had thrown wood on 
the fires, and the light was now sufiflcient to en- 
able the raiders to be distinguished clearly by 
their dress and adornments. 

“Don’t shoot to kill, if you can help it, lads,” 
called Duff. “Maim ’em and lame ’em if you 
can. It isn’t our quarrel you know, only as 


Here further utterance was choked off, as a 
powerful negro, who had made a detour, leaped 
upon the unwary mate from behind as he was 
delivering his merciful order. The knife was 
uplifted as the mate felt the grip of the man 
upon his collar, but the blow was not struck. 

Ralph’s Winchester cracked and the raised 
arm fell shattered and useless, while the knife 
dropped from the relaxing fingers. 

The attacked villagers, inspirited by the as- 


204 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


sistance they were receiving, fought with re- 
newed energy. 

In those days repeating breech loaders were 
much less commonly used than in more recent 
years. The savages became terror stricken at 
guns which seemed to be always loaded. 

A final and despairing yell gave the signal 
for retreat, and in a moment or two more, none 
of the enemy were to be seen, except the dead 
and wounded left behind. 

Our three adventurers were then over- 
whelmed by the rude but expressive manifesta- 
tions of thanks on the part of the villagers. The 
wounded were soon despatched, and it became 
evident to Duff, who partially understood their 
practices, that a cannibal feast would be next 
in order. 

The very idea sickened Ralph, though Ben 
announced that he had no objections to see one 
‘‘black nigger eat up another.” 

“Well, we have, if you haven’t,” said Duff, 
“so, as it is pretty near day and we’re loaded, I 
think we had better be getting back to the ship. 
Captain’s in a hurry to leave the coast anyhow.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


205 


But when the natives heard of this determin- 
ation, they one and all tried to persuade the 
whites to remain at least until day. The red- 
shirted chief pleaded almost with tears, in the 
very few words of English at his command. 

“You — me — brothers!” He pointed from 
Duff to himself. “You — stay. All — stay. Eat 
War-i-ka-ri much; eat — heap!” 

But when he found that all persuasion was 
useless, he bade his people fill the yawl with 
vegetables and such meat as was on hand. He 
would have butchered another ox, but as the 
boat would now hold no more. Duff with dif- 
ficulty made him stop. 

As the whites were pushing off he came run- 
ning down to the landing, bearing on his shoul- 
der a human leg severed from the body at the 
hip. 

“Take!” he shouted, but Ralph made haste to 
shove the boat off. “Take!” 

Seeing that they would not return, he heaved 
the toothsome delicacy at the lad, who, instead 
of catching it, knocked it into the river, where- 
at the chief became highly excited, and evi- 


206 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


dently somewhat wroth. The last they sav/ of 
him, he and others were trying to recover it by 
the aid of a pole. 

“Isn’t it horrible?” said Ralph, feeling nause- 
ated at the idea and the sight. “They seem 
friendly enough, yet — they eat one another. 
Pah!” 

Duff, at the tiller, laughed. Ben shook his 
head as he took a fresh quid. 

“Many of these coast tribes are cannibals I’ve 
heard,” commented the mate. “In times of fam- 
ine they eat the old folks and the girl babies. 
Queer world, isn’t it?” 

By the time the firelight had disappeared, and 
only the stars afforded a relief to the darkness, 
the wall of forest on either hand grew vague 
and indistinct. 

Having the current with them, their prog- 
ress was more rapid than their ascent of the 
stream, and by the time daylight appeared they 
were well on their way towards the mouth of 
the river. 

Once, as they were rounding a bend, and 
were nearer the shore than usual, a deep, harsh. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


207 


though distant roar met their ears. Ralph and 
Ben wondered what it was, but the mate re- 
plied by one significant word: 

“Lions.” 

“I would like to see one,” said Ralph. “But 
I thought lions were found mostly in Central 
and Southern Africa. At least so I’ve read.” 

“Right you are. But now and then they fre- 
quent the Gold Coast. I have heard them in 
Natal, and down about the diamond regions. 
Once you hear a wild lion roar, you never for- 
get the sound.” 

As the sun mounted above the forest, the 
odorous mists that infest those regions were 
drawn upward, giving out as the air grew warm 
a sickening and malarious infiuence. Vast and 
gloomy cypress, bay, swamp palm, ironwood, 
and other tropical woods reared their columnar 
trunks, from out a dark and noisome under- 
growth, to an immense height. In those leafy 
depths no sun ever shone, and the absence of 
bird life was noticeably depressing. 

“I hardly wonder the captain wants to get 
away as soon as possible,” remarked Duff, as 


208 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


they at last neared the narrow point where the 
river entered the little harbor. “A week in this 
place and half of us would be down with coast 
fever.” 

An exclamation from Ralph, who was in the 
bow, came next, as the yawl passed the last 
leafy point, and the surface of the anchorage 
became visible. 

“What now?” demanded Duff. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


Left Behind. 

No reply was necessary, for in another in- 
stant both the mate and the sailor compre- 
hended the cause of Ralph’s surprise and alarm. 

The Wanderer was nowhere to be seen. 

The entire surface of the small, landlocked 
bay was as deserted and seemingly untouched 
by man’s presence, as if hunian eyes had never 
beheld its solitude. A glimpse of the inlet and 
the breakers far out on the bar beyond was vis- 
ible between two islets. 

They could hear the monotonous thunder of 
the surf and discern a glassy ocean farther out, 
for the morning was calm, promising also to be 
intensely hot. 

The surprise of each was so supreme that for 
an instant nothing was said. Finally the mate, 
with an expression of deep perplexity on his 
countenance, said: 


14 


209 


210 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“ 1 cannot understand it at all. Let us row 
to the landing. Perhaps we may gain some clue 
to the mystery.” 

So they pulled across to the part of the har- 
bor where the schooner had been anchored 
when Duff, heading the boat for the shore, 
plunged them into the leafy recesses that over- 
hung the water. Having once penetrated this 
outer curtain, Ralph saw they were close to a 
rude landing made of logs sunk endways into 
the oozy bottom, and floored with large canes 
similar to bamboo. 

A sort of corduroy road led into the swamp, 
and disappeared amid the trees. Upon a post 
near by was an old marlin spike with something 
white fluttering beneath. This attracted the 
mate’s eye. 

^‘Here we are,” said he, detaching the bit of 
paper. “Perhaps this will give us a little light.” 

And he read as follows : 

“3 bells sekund dog watch. gOt to git out. 
Uncle Sam on the Lookoute. caP ses yu must 
shift fer yure selves.” 

“That looks as if a fo’c’stle fist had written 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


211 


it,” remarked Duff ruminatively. “I have felt 
for some time that Gary wouldn’t object to be- 
ing rid of a few of us.” 

“ ’E’s a bloomin’ fool,” quoth Ben, evidently 
feeling that this exigency had removed all re- 
straint of speech as regarded the captain. “Wot 
will ’e do short handed with a hundred or more 
black devils aboard in case trouble comes? Bur- 
rin’ I were out o’ here though, I wouldn’t care 
if I never touched a halyard of the Wanderer 
again.” 

“You see,” said Duff, “we three were known 
to disapprove of the whole business. He needed 
me to get over here, for I know the coast. But 
he can get along without me going back.” 

“What does that mean about Uncle Sam,” 
asked Ralph. 

“That is to make us think some Yankee 
cruiser is in the neighborhood, and that they 
left for safety’s sake. I half believe that is a 
blind. But come. We must be stirring, and see 
if they are really gone, and also if we can cross 
the bar in a calm, loaded as we are. I know we 
can’t, should a breeze spring up.” 


212 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Presently they were aboard again, pulling 
for the inlet. As they passed between a num- 
ber of mangrove islets Ealph, looking down, 
could see an occasional shark or sawfish leis- 
urely prodding about ten or fifteen feet below 
the surface. 

But as they neared the bar the water grew 
clouded, though a dark dorsal appendage 
thrusting itself here and there above the wave 
indicated the terrible result that would prob- 
ably follow should the boat capsize. 

When they rounded the last intervening point 
and the open ocean was disclosed, the first ob- 
ject that met their eyes was the Wanderer 
with all sails set, about two miles in the offing. 
She lay motionless, for the calm was complete. 

“Well,” remarked Duff, “we’re all right if we 
pass the bar. There would be no trouble about 
that with a lighter load. We can try it as we 
are, for our supplies will be needed; but if nec- 
essary — over they go.” 

They were already nearing the first line of 
breakers, when the mate detected a second sail 
to the left and much nearer the shore. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


213 


This stranger was a full rigged ship hardly 
a mile away and to the southward, while the 
Wanderer was almost due west from the inlet. 

“She’s a sailing corvette, or I’m much mis- 
taken,” said the mate, “but — mind yourselves, 
men! Pull with a will.” 

The first line of breakers was passed without 
trouble. The second was rougher, and the men 
strained at the oars to give the yawl as much 
headway as possible. 

The last wave came “quartering” and threw 
a hatful of water into Ralph’s face, whereat 
Mr. Duff laughed cheerily. 

“One ducking!” he cried. “But now comes 
the tug of war. Jump her, boys! Jump her, I 
say!” 

The third and last line was longer, larger, 
and in every way more formidable, owing to the 
sudden deepening of the water. Both Ben and 
Ralph were rather exhausted from their previ- 
ous exertions, and Duff yelled himself hoarse 
in his repeated entreaties to : 

“Give way! G-g-give wa-a-a-y I tell you! 
Don’t you see — we’re gone? Keep her nose up! 


214 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


K-e-e-p it u-u-u-p-p! Sharks and sawfish, men! 
are you going to let her broach? Now then! 
All together, a-n-d — over she — good heavens!” 

A barrel or two of brine hurled over the star- 
board quarter choked off the mate’s adjura- 
tions. But it was the last of the angry combers 
and the next minute the three were wiping the 
salt water from their faces while the yawl was 
riding easily on the glassy swell just beyond 
the bar. 

“Now head her for the schooner, boys,” said 
Duff, bailing with one hand as he steered with 
the other. “If we hadn’t had the ebb with us, 
we’d have had to lighten her. Now — give me 
your oar, Ralph. You steer. We’ve no time to 
lose, for if a breeze starts before we reach the 
side, I fear they’re not so fond of our company 
but what they might give us the slip yet.” 

“Couldn’t we ship on that other vessel?” 
asked Ralph, by no means reluctant to change 
his berth to a ship less liable to the law’s pen- 
alties. 

“We probably could,” replied Duff dryly. “We 
probably might also have to spend several 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


215 


months in jail somewhere as slavers, or for aid- 
ing and abetting in the traffic. I think we’d 
better overhaul the schooner and wait for bet- 
ter times.” 

The sun was now high in the heavens, and 
the growing heat already almost unbearable. 
They stripped to their shirt and trousers while 
the sweat rolled in streams from the faces of 
the oarsmen. 

While nearing the Wanderer rapidly they no- 
ticed a faint, dark line approaching up from 
the southeast along the line of the coast. 

“A wind, by thunder!” exclaimed Duff, re- 
newing his efforts at the oar. ^‘Look! the cor- 
vette already feels it. Give way, Ben? Gary is 
none too good to leave us yet if the wind 
reaches him before we do.” 

Kalph, now rested, sprang forward. 

“Take the tiller, Ben,” said he. “I’m good for 
a sharp pull.” 

But the old sailor, whose muscles were like 
whipcord, shook his head and fairly made the 
yawl spring beneath his redoubled strokes. 

For the next three or four minutes Duff kept 


216 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


his eye upon the advancing line, behind which 
a sea of steely ripples danced in the sunlight. 

The cruiser, slowly heeling to leeward, veered 
her bow round to her course, and Duff could 
see the dash of water about her cutwater as she 
forged ahead. Still the Wanderer lay motion- 
less, like a beautiful picture, every sail that 
would draw set to catch the first whiff of the 
breeze that was bringing the corvette slowly 
within range. 

Less than three miles separated the vessels, 
while the yawl, scarcely four hundred yards 
from the schooner, was lessening the distance 
rapidly. But the breeze traveled faster. 

Kalph could see Gary in the rigging watch- 
ing the cruiser through a glass. No attention 
seemed to be paid to the boat. 

Three hundred yards — then two hundred — 
one hundred; and as the distance lessened their 
spirits rose. They were, however, half a cable 
length away, when a sullen boom was heard, 
and a solid shot came skipping along the sur- 
face of the sea to the left of the schooner. 

“That is an order to ‘stay where you are’,” re- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


217 


marked Duff. “Ah! here comes our wind,” he 
added, as a cool, refreshing whiff fanned their 
brows. “Any other time and I would welcome 
it; but — come down on her, Ben!” 

Ralph, fancying that he saw the Wanderer’s 
sails beginning to fill, sprang forward, seized 
an extra oar and pulled with all his might. 
The tired muscles were strained in a final ef- 
fort, and the moist veins bulged about their 
temples. 

“Boat ahoy!” came from the schooner. “Look 
alive or we’ll leave you.” 

“Leave ” the rest of Duff’s exclamation 

was lost as he threw his whole effort into a 
last spurt. 

The shadow of the lofty sails was towering 
over the yawl when the Wanderer began to 
glide ahead. Another gun from the cruiser, 
and the ball drove between boat and schooner, 
missing the first by but a few yards. 

“Boat there! Make ready for a rope!” 

A sailor sprang upon the taffrail and the 
next instant a slim line uncoiled itself over the 
water. Duff, springing up, caught the end on 


218 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


his oar blade, and by a dexterous twist brought 
it within reach. 

As he rose from making it fast, the yawl was 
spinning through the water in the schooner’s 
wake, as the latter, heeling to the wind, re- 
sponded like a thing of life to the wishes of 
those on board. 

Hand over hand the mate drew the heavily 
laden boat under the Wanderer’s lee, made fast 
the davits as they were lowered, and a moment 
or two later the three tired boatmen found 
themselves safely on deck. 

When the ample supply of meat and vege- 
tables was hoisted over the bulwarks, the few 
who had time to look were loud in their expres- 
sions of approval. Captain Gary hardly vouch- 
safed them more than a glance. To Duff, how- 
ever, he briefly said: 

“We had warning in the night that the 
Adams” (a sailing vessel in the old United 
States navy) “was making up the coast, and we 
had to pull out. We’re short of water. Your 
grub comes in handy, though.” 

“I suppose then we might have been left, had 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


219 


we been a little later, or the wind had sprung up 
sooner.” 

The captain shrugged his shoulders, then 
glowered at Ralph, who was relating his adven- 
tures to several men about the cook’s galley. 

“When John Bull or Uncle Sam are as close 
as that fellow yonder, a slaver has to look out 
for himself. Now, Mr. Duff, you are a gunner, 
I understand. I want you to make ready our 
stern chaser. If they keep on firing we must try 
to cripple their sailing powers if we can. It’s 
lucky she didn’t happen to be a steamer.” 

But Duff, already somewhat piqued by Gary’s 
apparent indifference as to whether the yawl 
was picked up or not, drew himself up stiffiy. 

“When I shipped with you. Captain Gary,” 
he replied, “there was nothing said about my 
serving as a gunner. I must respectfully de- 
cline to fire on an American ship. I am too much 
of an American myself.” 

Without waiting for the burst of anger which 
he knew would follow this mutinous(?) deliv- 
ery, the second mate wheeled and made his way 


220 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


to the galley, where he ordered Neb to serve 
him breakfast in the cabin. 

Gary gave vent to a subdued oath or two, 
then bottled his wrath for a more auspicious 
occasion. 

Meanwhile the Wanderer, when once fully un- 
der way, began to evince her remarkable sail- 
ing qualities, especially in light winds. She 
steadily drew away from the cruiser, whose 
people, having obtained the range, were send- 
ing shot after shot, with a view of crippling the 
schooner’s sailing powers. 

One round shot tore a great hole through the 
mainsail, as it went shrieking by. Gary him- 
self, aided by Kucker, got ready one of the two 
guns wherewith the Wanderer was equipped 
and soon returned their fire, though no effect 
was manifest. 

The cruiser must have been informed of the 
character of the slaver, or she would not have 
attempted to cripple her so persistently. Duff, 
after eating, returned to the quarter-deck, 
where he watched with folded arms the rather 
unskillful efforts to handle the long twelve 


RALPH GRANGERS FORTUNES. 


221 


pounder pointed sternwards from the Wan- 
derer’s waist. At each discharge a chorus of 
cries from the hold reminded him of their liv- 
ing cargo, deepening still more his disgust at 
the nature of the venture into which he had 
been inveigled. 

The breeze began to freshen and whip some- 
what to the southwest. Duff went forward to 
where Gary and Rucker were trying to sight 
the loaded gun. 

^^Shall I have the sheets trimmed, Captain 
Gary,” he asked. 

Gary surveyed the mate from head to foot 
with cool insolence. Then he stamped his foot. 

^Wou shall either go before the mast as a 
common sailor, or you can remain a prisoner in 
your stateroom during my pleasure. If I gave 
you your deserts, I’d have you clapped in irons.” 

^^As a sailor you would probably put me in 
irons for again refusing to fire, should you or- 
der me to; so I will go to the cabin. Take no- 
tice, however. Captain Gary, I protest against 
your treatment. To fire on an American man-of- 
war under these circumstances is piracy, and I 


222 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


submit that no captain has a right to issue such 
orders to true American seamen.” 

Gary’s fury was such that he laid hold of one 
of the cutlasses in the rack at the foot of the 
mainmast, but the screech of a shot and the 
crash of a splintered topsail boom, diverted his 
attention. 

Duff, laying aside his own weapon, descended 
to the cabin. 

“Up with you!” shouted the captain. Lay out 
along the fo’s’l gaff there. Lively now!” 


CHAPTEK XX. 


Ralph Stumbles on a Discovery. 

Three nimble sailors were soon stretched 
along the slanting gaff of the great foresail, a 
perilous and quivering berth, with nothing for 
the hands to grasp but the shivering leech and 
shivered boom of the topsail. The crippled 
boom was soon lashed with pieces of spun yarn, 
and the damage thus temporarily repaired. 

Ralph, after a comfortable meal in the gal- 
ley for himself and Ben, was attracted to the 
grating over the main hatch by the strange 
noises that issued thence. Shading his eyes 
from the light, he peered below, and through 
the semi-darkness saw a sight that made him 
heartsick and disgusted. More than ever he 
wished that he had never gone on this luckless 
cruise. 

The main hold was a place, perhaps sixty feet 
long by less than twenty-five wide. Into this 


223 


224 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“black hole,” where the upright space between 
decks was less than seven feet, were crowded 
one hundred and seventy naked creatures, like 
hogs in a stock car. 

They could not lie down unless a portion 
stood up to make room, neither could all remain 
seated except by drawing up their limbs in 
cramping and painful postures. The odors al- 
ready arising from this pit of torture were such 
that the lad had to turn his face away for 
fresh air. 

“It’s awful!” he gasped to himself. “It’s sim- 
ply awful. I never had very much liking for 
niggers — as niggers, but such as this is enough 
to bring God’s punishment on every one of us 
that have helped to bring it about. Jeemineddy! 
I wouldn’t care much if that ship did overhaul 
us. Want water, do you?” 

This last remark was brought out by Ralph’s 
noticing several of the negroes make signs to 
him as of drinking from their hands. Ralph 
walked straight to Captain Gary and saluted. 

“May I give those people below some water, 
sir?” he asked. “They seem to want some.” 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


225 


“No!” shouted Gary, not sorry to vent his 
spleen on so inviting an object as Ralph. “We’ll 
all be wanting water if that fellow there drives 
us from the coast without another chance to fill 
the butts. Get forward there and don’t let me 
hear from you till you’re spoken to. D’ye un- 
derstand?” 

Ralph retreated, and Gary, after another un- 
successful trial at the cruiser’s masts, gave or- 
ders to cease firing. 

The wind was now a stiff breeze, and the 
Adams was holding her own. With the rising 
of the sea it was probable that the larger ves- 
sel would gain on the smaller one. 

The cruiser also stopped firing, as the in- 
creased rolling of the ship rendered a long range 
shot too ineffective. 

For an hour or more the relative positions of 
the two vessels remained comparatively un- 
changed. If there was any advantage it was 
on the side of the cruiser, though the Wan- 
derer behaved beautifully. 

But the wind steadily rose, and by the time 
15 


226 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


eight bells was struck, and Neb announced din- 
ner, the Adams was perceptibly gaining. 

“Send that boy aft,” ordered Gary, and when 
Ralph appeared the captain said sneeringly: 
“You seem to think so much of those black 
brutes below, I guess you can help deal out 
their rations. Go to Long Tom.” 

That worthy was buckling a brace of revol- 
vers about his person, and had in his hand a 
sharp rawhide. Two sailors bore a great bas- 
ket of corn bread and ship’s hard bread. To 
Ralph was given a smaller one, containing meat 
minutely divided into about two ounce slices. 

“ ’Ere we go,” remarked the boatswain, head- 
ing for the lower gangway door. 

At this place an armed sentinel stood day 
and night. As the four entered, a howl arose 
not unlike that of caged wild beasts. But it 
was more for water than for food. 

“Eat first; drink afterwards,” said Bludson, 
striking lightly right and left to restrain their 
eagerness. “That’s the law aboard here. Mind, 
Ralph; one bit of meat apiece — no more.” 

One sailor bore a lantern, for the only light 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


227 


afforded outside of that was from the grated 
hatch above. Amid the half obscurity Ealph 
saw a jumble of swart, brutish faces and wildly 
gleaming eyes, and heard a babel of guttural 
sounds suggestive of a savage Bedlam where 
violence was restrained only by fear. 

Up and down the rows of naked forms they 
passed, dealing to each one a ration of bread 
and meat, scanty and coarse enough, yet suf- 
ficient to sustain life. Then half a pint of water 
was served out to each. 

Here the struggle to keep order was fiercest. 
The strong would attempt to deprive the weak 
of their share, and Bludson’s whip was kept 
constantly going. 

Once a brawny negro made a strong effort to 
seize the bucket, regardless of the cowhide, 
when Long Tom felled him at a blow with his 
pistol butt, then cocking the weapon, glanced 
sternly around at the circle of angry faces by 
which they were surrounded. 

The negroes would have torn them in pieces 
had they dared, for the want of water was al- 


228 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ready rendering them desperate in that fetid 
hole. 

Ralph returned to the deck pale, nauseated, 
and sick at heart. The captain noticed this and 
it angered him, as did nearly everything which 
the boy now did. 

“Hark ye!” he growled. “D’ye think you’d 
like to spend all your time down there?” 

“I would rather be dead,” said Ralph half an- 
grily, for his whole being rebelled against the 
atrocity of which he was being made, perforce, 
one of the perpetrators. 

“Would, eh?” The captain eyed him with 
leering malevolence. “You’ll mind your eye 
then while you’re on this craft, and you’ll obey 
orders, without a word, or — down you go among 
those demons for punishment. Go to my room 
and bring up my small glass — the double one. 
Stay — while you’re there make up the berth 
and tidy things up a bit. Lively now!” 

Ralph went below burning with a sense of fu- 
tile rage. It was useless to rebel, however, for 
on a ship a boy is the most helpless of creatures. 

As he moodily arranged things in the cap- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


229 


tain’s stateroom, wondering for the hundreth 
time why Gary should appear to wish to per- 
secute him after having been so courteous at 
Savannah, Ealph’s eye fell on an open letter ly- 
ing on the floor before the half open door of a 
small iron safe. Evidently Gary, in his haste 
or excitement over the approach of the warship, 
had left the safe in this condition. The letter 
had probably fallen there unnoticed. 

Ralph picked it up, intending to lay it on the 
table, when a certain familiarity in the hand- 
writing struck him as peculiar and he started 
to read the contents. 

“My dear Cousin: — ” it began; but after get- 
ting thus far the boy threw the sheet down 
upon the table. 

“Why should I be reading the captain’s let- 
ters?” thought he, and a flush of shame crept 
momentarily to his forehead. “And yet — it 
doesn’t seem to be the one I gave him.” 

He remembered that Shard had mentioned 
an intention to write Gary by mail. 

As Ralph hesitated, a desire strengthened 
within him to read further, despite the moni- 


230 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


tions of conscience. A vague idea that the 
strange and contradictory behavior of Gary 
might be explained was perhaps at the bottom 
of the lad’s mental persistence. 

He hesitated until his fingers burned, then 
made a sudden grasp at the letter. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


At Close Quarters. 

Without giving himself time to think, Ralph 
now read as follows: 

My Dear Cousin: 

If he does not get lost on his way you will be 
apt to see an awkward country boy in Savan- 
nah in a day or two, who is quite anxious to go 
to sea. I have recommended him to apply to 
you, and you will do me a great favor, not only 
to take him, but to see that he never comes 
back. Mind you — no violence. I know your 
devilish temper. But you can either wear him 
out with hard work, or leave him in Africa, or 
get rid of him in some way which may gratify 
the hatred which I and mine have felt for his 
whole generation for years, and yet avoid dif- 
ficulty with the law. We have enough to con- 
tend with as it is, in our Cuban venture. 

Frankly now, if you wish any more cash ad- 
vances from me, you must see to this lad, and 
contrive to make something out of this cargo 


231 


282 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


of live stock. Shipping wild niggers is grow- 
ing riskier every year, especially as Cuba and 
Brazil (our only markets left) threaten to free 
their slaves. 

Look sharp, dodge all warships, and attend to 
that brat of a boy. I have soft soaped him by 
giving him a letter to you which you will inter- 
pret by this. 

Your Cousin, 

Theodore Shard. 

Ralph’s first hot impulse was to go up and 
make known to Gary that he now saw through 
the eccentricities of the latter’s behavior, and 
that Shard’s treachery was also known. A sec- 
ond thought convinced him that such a course 
in the captain’s present mood, would most like- 
ly, only precipitate some act of violence of 
which he would be the victim. 

Ralph now saw why he had been sent up the 
river on a perilous errand, and why he and his 
companions were so readily deserted on the 
first inkling that a sloop of war was near. 
Gary’s unchanging severity and dislike were 
explained, and as the boy contrasted his pres- 
ent treatment with the honeyed manner which 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


233 


had SO deceived him in Savannah, he felt that 
he was justified in using any means to coun- 
teract such methods. 

As he fiung the letter down, a slight noise 
made him turn. Duff was standing at the door. 

Ealph, feeling that here was his best friend 
aboard, resolved to acquaint the mate with all 
that had occurred relating to Shard’s and 
Gary’s conspiracy against himself. This he did 
as briefly as possible, clinching his remarks by 
holding out the letter. 

“I won’t read it, though it’s right enough you 
should, seeing it concerns your safety,” replied 
Duff. “I’m in disgrace, too, so it might be a 
good plan for us to stick together — for self 
preservation, I mean. We don’t want to hurt 
any one, unless they try to hurt us. We’re 
scarce in water, and that cruiser ain’t going to 
let us back to the coast again. You can bank 
your life on that. 

“Captain is in his worst mood, and he ain’t 
likely to get better. He’ll begin on the crew 
next. They say he is a perfect fiend for pun- 
ishment once he gets mad all through. These 


234 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


poor niggers will keep him half crazy as their 
.want of water grows, and the hot calms strike 
us in the doldrums. It’s my frank opinion, lad, 
that we’ll be having a little floating place of 
torment of our own here before many days have 
passed.” 

The captain’s voice hurled down the com- 
panionway, interrupted them harshly. 

“He wants his glass,” said Ralph, seizing the 
instrument in question. “I must go.” 

“Well,” concluded Duff as he returned to his 
own stateroom, “lay low and look out for 
squalls. That’s all we can do at present.” 

When Ralph returned to the deck the wind 
was stiffening to a gale, and half a dozen men 
were putting a single reef into the mainsail, 
while several more were laying out along the 
bowsprit doing the same office for one of the 
jibs. 

The outermost one, called the flyaway, was 
being furled, though the sailor stretched out 
upon the stay beneath the bowsprit was 
drenched by each downward plunge of the 
schooner’s bow. The Adams still carried a 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


235 


heavy press of canvas, though black specks of 
men could be seen on the yards shortening the 
loftier sails. The larger vessel rode the rising 
seas more easily, and had already come vpithin 
close range. 

Gary seized the glass and leveled it at the 
cruiser, then at the southwestern horizon, where 
a dull gray film of vapor was settled upon the 
sea. 

He handed the glass to Eucker and swore 
impatiently. 

“If we have half an hour more of this wind 
we’re gone up,” he growled. “Our only chance 
is a fog.” 

A puff of smoke belched from the port bow 
of the warship. 

“They understand what that fog might do 
for us as well as we do,” remarked Eucker, as 
a shell exploded some distance to leeward. 
“They’ll get the range in a few minutes, and 
when one of those twelve pound bombs ex- 
plodes in our tops ” 

“They see that solid shot won’t do,” inter- 


236 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


rupted Gary fiercely. “It is quick work they 
are after.” 

Down in the hold the labored pitching of the 
schooner was adding seasickness to the suffer- 
ings of the poor wretches there. Doleful cries 
resounded, among which one at all conversant 
with their language would have heard calls for 
water predominate. 

At night, when darkness reigned, the misery 
of such a scene would be augmented. 

Several shells were fired by the cruiser, each 
one coming nearer to the mark, until at last an 
explosion just forward of the foretopmast shiv- 
ered a double throat block, and down came 
the foresail, the leech trailing in the sea as it 
fell. 

Another piece of the shell tore off a sailor’s 
arm, and still another disabled one of the boats. 

Orders from the captain came thick and fast; 
men fiew hither and thither to repair the dam- 
age, while the wounded man lay writhing and 
neglected for some time. The Adams all at 
once slowly yawed, being within easy range, as 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


237 


the Wanderer lay helpless with her nose in the 
wind’s eye. 

“Look out!” shouted Rucker. “She’s mak- 
ing ready to give us a broadside.” 

“Lively there, men!” roared Gary, nearly 
frantic. “Do you want to spend a year or so in 
a Yankee jail?” 

A redoubled roar from the cruiser followed, 
and a small tempest of iron hurtled around 
them. 

One shot passed through the after hold, terri- 
fying anew the negroes, who yelled fearfully. 
A rent or two in the sails was all the damage 
beside, that was inflicted. 

Ralph, who was assisting to reeve a new 
block at the foretop, saw that the fog was al- 
most at hand. But before it came a change of 
wind; preceding which, as the southeaster died, 
there were a few moments of calm. 

The lull reached the Wanderer first, and the 
cruiser, swinging to her course, forged so far 
ahead that, before the schooner could again 
hoist her foresail, the Adams rounded to, less 
than half a mile away and presented a frowning 


238 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


row of shotted guns to the slaver’s stern. It 
was a fair raking position. 

Eucker threw down his speaking trumpet in 
despair, though Gary’s eyes were fixed keenly 
upon the advancing fog. A signal for the 
slaver to lie to was followed by a peremptory 
shot athwart the schooner’s bow. 

At the same time a boat was lowered away, 
filled with armed men, and started towards the 
Wanderer. 

“Heave to, men!” ordered the captain. “But 
be ready to hoist the fo’s’l when I give the 
word. Down with your, helm — down, man!” 
This to the man at the wheel. “We mustn’t 
give those fellows any cause to suspect us — 
now.” 

While the boat approached, it was at times 
lost in the hollows of the seas, but always rose 
again nearer than before. Meanwhile the Wan- 
derer lay to, with her mainsail fiattened and her 
topsails aback. 

Apparently she was merely awaiting the ar- 
rival of the cruiser’s boat to surrender herself. 
Many on board thought so now, and, in cer- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


239 


tain quarters, bitter were the grumblings over 
their “hard luck.” All this time Gary, stand- 
ing at the compass, alternately watched the 
cruiser and the approach of the fog, while the 
schooner, deprived of headway, rolled in seem- 
ing helplessness in the trough of the sea. 

“Lad,” said Ben to Ralph as the two slid 
down the ratlines when their task aloft was 
done, “I almost wish we were back among those 
bloody niggers ashore. ’Twould be better than 
standin’ trial for bein’ caught on a blackguard 
of a slaver — bad luck to her.” 

“We must make the best of it,” began Ralph, 
when Gary’s voice interrupted him. 

“Hoist away there, men!” cried the captain, 
brandishing his arms furiously. “Up with that 
fo’s’l! Up with it, I say! Ease away on those 
tops’ls. Lively now! Haul away on that jib. 
Flatten ’em, boys !” 

The men worked like demons, for on the in- 
stant they apprehended the daring nature of 
Gary’s maneuver. Rucker, seizing the trumpet, 
echoed the captain’s orders in stentorian tones. 

It was not until the schooner fell off broad- 


240 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


side that these actions were noticeable to those 
on the warship. But she could not now fire 
without endangering her own boat, which was 
scarcely fifty yards from the slaver. 

So nicely had Gary calculated, that the 
breeze bearing the fog struck the Wanderer’s 
sails just as she was trimmed to fall off. The 
cruiser, stricken by the brief calm which had 
previously palsied the schooner’s movements, 
lay helpless in a double sense, being unable to 
either move or fire. 

“Make ready to go about,” said the captain 
to the first mate, who bellowed the order 
through his trumpet. 

They were nearly abreast of the cruiser’s 
boat, which, seeing at once what was up, fired 
an ineffectual volley of small arms as the Wan- 
derer gracefully swept by, hardly a pistol shot 
off. 

“About ship!” said Gary quietly. 

“Hard a lee!” sang out the mate, and as the 
schooner rushed up into the wind, Gary, walk- 
ing to the stern, kissed his hand satirically to 
the officers in the boat. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


241 


“I’ve a notion to sink yon,” he muttered. “One 
solid shot would do the business; but perhaps 
’twill be best for us to get away, doing as little 
damage as possible. It might be safer in case 
of subsequent trouble with the authorities.” 

Close hauled upon her other tack, the schoon- 
er was heading diagonally towards the fog 
which was just at hand, like a dense, advancing 
wall. 

As they drew away from the boat the cruiser 
began to fire one gun after another. Each dis- 
charge sent apprehensive thrills through the 
slaver’s crew. Finally a whole broadside of the 
warship’s upper battery came shrieking over 
the water. 

16 


CHAPTER XXII. 


Trouble of Another Kind. 

“That was a close call,” exclaimed Rucker, 
as a shot cut away one of the jib stays, carry- 
ing down the flying jib. 

Even as he spoke the film of the fog enve- 
loped them, and though the sloop of war con- 
tinued to fire, her shots did no further damage, 
for the Wanderer almost immediately lost sight 
of her pursuer. 

Gary then had the course altered to discon- 
cert the aim of the corvette, which soon after 
ceased firing. 

The breeze that bore the fog with it, was a 
light one, and as the mist was liable to rise at 
any time the captain made the most of his op- 
portunity by carrying all the sail he could 
spread. He dared not return to the coast, bad 
as he needed water; for the alarm once given, 
other cruisers would be on the watch there. So 

242 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


243 


he determined to make for the Cape Verdes, and 
risk the chance of being able to water in those 
islands. Should no prying war ships happen 
along he anticipated little difficulty. 

The day wore away slowly. It was about an 
hour by sun in the afternoon before the fog be- 
gan to lift. A sailor was at each mast head 
watching for the Adams, as the course of the 
corvette was entirely unknown. 

“Sail ho!” sang out one of these lookouts as 
the mist, rolling eastward, began to show a 
clear horizon towards the north. 

In a minute both captain and mate were 
aloft. There was the Adams about four miles 
away, and somewhat astern to the lee quarter. 
Almost at the same time the Wanderer was ob- 
served from the cruiser, as the latter began to 
pile up her canvas with a rapidity that evinced 
a sudden cause therefor. As the mate returned 
to the deck Gary called: 

“Ease away, Mr. Rucker. We’ve got just the 
wind that suits us, and I think we have the ad- 
vantage this time.” 

With the light breeze that continued, and 


244 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


with the sheets free, the Wanderer was at her 
best. By the time the sun went down it could 
be seen that the war ship was losing ground. 

When night closed in she was fully five miles 
astern. With a heavier wind the advantage 
would have been on her side, but as it was, when 
morning dawned the Adams was not in sight. 

After that came several days of light, baf- 
fling winds, alternating with calms. The sun, 
as they drew nearer the equator, became more 
and more unbearable. 

In the close hold the heat and stench were 
frightful. The constant cries for water ren- 
dered the crew nervous and the captain irrit- 
able. He now punished the men severely for 
the slightest infraction of duty. 

‘Tf we don’t reach the Verdes,” said Duff to 
Ealph one day, as the lad was sweeping the 
cabin, “there will be an outbreak of some kind. 
Come to the gangway and listen.” 

The second mate, who still remained below — 
his place being taken by Bludson after a fash- 
ion — now led Ralph to the grated door where 
stood the loaded howitzer. The sentry was not 


RALPH GRANGERS FORTUNES. 


245 


there; another sign of the crew’s demoraliza- 
tion. He had slipped into one of the store 
rooms, now left unlocked, to tap a water butt 
unseen, for all hands were on short water ra- 
tions. 

When Duff and the boy halted, they could 
hear a sort of rasping sound from underneath 
like the boring or cutting of wood. 

^What is that?” asked Kalph. 

^^Mischief,” said the mate sententiously. 
^Those wretches in the hold are up to some 
trickery. These stupid sentries are too dull or 
careless to investigate. They are crazy for 
water in there, and it is my opinion they have 
got hold of something and are trying to cut a 
way out — God knows where! — perhaps through 
the bottom of the vessel.” 

^^Suppose you tell the captain.” 

^^He is that obstinate he’d simply curse me, 
and probably give no heed. But some one else 
might speak with better effect.” 

^^Do you think I had better?” 

Ealph spoke doubtfully, realizing that he also 
was no favorite with Gary. 


246 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


“You might bring it about in some way. I 
certainly owe Captain Gary no favors, yet I 
should hate to stand by and see those fiends cut 
their way out, and say nothing. They would 
murder every soul on board.” 

Later on, Ralph found a chance to tell the 
captain what Duff had told him. Gary’s scowl 
deepened. 

“Duff told you this, did he?” demanded the 
skipper suspiciously. “Out with the truth.” 

Ralph acknowledged that the second mate 
was his informant. 

Stuff! Haven’t we a sentry there con- 
stantly?” 

“But the sentry isn’t always at his post, so 
Mr. Duff says. He was away today when we 
heard the noises.” 

“And you heard them, too! The mate tat- 
tling to the cabin boy, and both peaching on 
the poor sentry, who is, I dare say, more trusty 
than either one of you two. Go forward, and 
stay there until you are bidden back. Rank 
mutiny, by thunder!” 

Gary stamped his foot, more with the air of 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


247 


one demented than that of a sane and sober 
commander. Indeed the situation was suffic- 
iently grave without this new complication. 

Several of the negroes had already died, and 
more were down helpless beneath the feet of 
their thirst-tortured but more able-bodied fel- 
low sufferers. The howls and lamentations that 
continually ascended through the grating were 
trying to the nerves, aside from considerations 
of profit and loss. The combined effect on Gary 
was to render him more unreasonable and ty- 
rannical than ever. 

Oh, for more wind! They were hardly up into 
the trades yet, and at that season, even the 
trades were uncertain. 

But it was certain that unless enough 
favorable wind did come, and come soon, they 
would hardly reach the Cape Verdes in time. 
Already crew, negroes and all, were down to 
one pint of water to the man every twenty-four 
hours. In that hot and stifiing weather their 
tortures grew almost unbearable. 

One night Eucker, happening to want a night 
glass, left the deck for a moment to go below 


248 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


for it, and passing close to the sleepy sentry, 
he heard the same sounds which had aroused 
Duff’s suspicions. After Ralph’s rebuff the sec- 
ond mate had made no further attempt to have 
the thing investigated. 

“What’s that?” said he sharply to the sailor, 
who sat leaning against the bulkhead, but the 
man made no answer. 

Rucker shook him sharply, and at the same 
time scented the odor of liquor about the fellow. 

“Wake up. What have you been drinking? 
What noise is that?” 

But receiving only unintelligible replies, and 
having to return immediately to his watch on 
deck, he reported the circumstances to the cap- 
tain, who broke into a storm of invective. Ruck- 
er discreetly withdrew. 

Shortly thereafter Duff heard from his state- 
room an uproar in the gangway. Looking out, 
he saw the captain standing over the prostrate 
form of the sentry, whom he had knocked down 
with the man’s own gun. One of the storeroom 
doors was open. 

“I see now!” foamed Gary, nearly beside him- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES, 


249 


self. ^^You fellows on watch have been tapping 
this rum barrel night and day, I reckon, and 
mischief going on right under your feet. But 
Idl even you up. Where is the bo^s’n?’’ 

Receiving no answer to this last shouted de- 
mand, Gary sprang up the stairway, leaving 
the insensible sentry stretched upon the floor. 

Duff, still watching from his stateroom 
through the open cabin door, saw a gaunt, 
dusky face thrust itself from the storeroom and 
peer wildly round. Other faces joined it, and in 
an instant a dozen naked black forms were 
crowding the gangway. 

They saw Duff. Several made for him, brand- 
ishing short chains from their fetters, which 
they had managed somehow to loosen and 
sever. Others beat the sentry^s brains out, and 
overthrew the howitzer. 

The noise thus made, and Duff’s loud calls to 
alarm the ship, caused Rucker and one or two 
seamen to run hastily down the companionway. 
Being unarmed they were forced into the cabin 
or back up the gangway, by a horde of frantic 
savages, who were being continually reinforced 


250 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


from the hold by way of the two holes, which 
they had somehow cut through the bulkhead 
into the storeroom, where among other things, 
was the barrel of rum. 

The drinking must have been going on se- 
cretly for a day or two. In fact others of the 
crew were now discovered to be tipsy, and that 
the officers had not found it out before was 
doubtless owing to the growing laxness of dis- 
cipline, despite the captain’s severity. 

Gary, accompanied by Bludson and others, 
now appeared, armed with pistols and cut- 
lesses; but the door leading into the hold was 
already broken down. Scores of half crazy ne- 
groes swarmed into the gangway, bearing back 
the whites by sheer weight of numbers, not- 
withstanding the weapons of the crew. Ke- 
volver and cutlass played an active part, but 
the slaves seemed absolutely indifferent to life. 

When one was shot down, half a dozen took 
his place. Even the few women fought like 
tigresses. The truth was they were crazed for 
want of water. 

In the cabin, Rucker and one seaman had 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


251 


been literally torn limb from limb. The remain- 
ing man escaped into the captain’s room. 

Dnff, who was withont weapons, clambered 
through the stern window of his room, and 
gained the deck by way of the vessel’s stern 
post and a rope thrown him by Ralph, who had 
been summoned to the wheel when the alarm 
was given. The lad was chafing at his inac- 
tivity. 

‘‘There’s hardly any breeze,” said Duff. “Lash 
the wheel, my lad, and bear a hand. If those 
niggers gain the deck we’re gone up sure.” 

It was but the task of a moment to obey, seize 
a cutlass from the rack and follow the mate to 
the companion-way, where Gary and what was 
left of the men with him were being forced up 
the steps. 

The captain was covered with blood from a 
scalp wound, but he was equal to several or- 
dinary men. Skillfully parrying the blows di- 
rected at his life, he had laid more than one 
burly savage low. 

But the number and fury of the yelling crowd 
were irresistible. Seizing the weapons of their 


252 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


dead and wounded assailants, they fought with 
the blind energy of desperation. 

“Batten down the main hatch,” called Gary, 
seeing Duff and Ralph. “Bludson is gone, but 
we can hold them until you return.” 

The order was swiftly executed. Then the 
second mate and Ralph, assisted by one sailor, 
brought forward the heavy storm covering of 
the after companion-way and placed it in readi- 
ness. A charge down was then made and the 
negroes driven back a little. 

“Now, men,” cried Gary, springing up to the 
deck, at the rear of his men, “down with it! 
Jump on it, and batten her — batten her!” 

With both hatches thus secured, they were 
in undisputed possession of the deck, though 
the whole interior of the ship, except the fore- 
castle, was at the mercy of the negroes. The 
triumphant howls of the latter were deafening. 

Suddenly a shriek was heard. The savages 
had entered the captain’s stateroom and fallen 
upon the sailor who had taken refuge there. 

On deck Gary counted his help. He found 
that besides Bludson and Rucker five sailors 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


263 


were missing. His available force, including 
himself, Duff and Ralph, amounted only to ten. 

Two of these were desperately wounded, one 
having his throat actually torn by the teeth of 
the cannibals below. 

The arms were mostly on deck, but the am- 
munition, provisions, and most of their scanty 
supply of water was below. 

They were in a terrible situation. What deed 
of desperation the negroes might do it was im- 
possible to tell. There were matches; they 
might fire the ship. There was the rum; they 
might still gain the upper hand of all, when 
nerved and further crazed by liquor. 

Two lanterns shed a melancholy light fore 
and aft. The wind had died away and the heav- 
ens were sprinkled with stars. 

Gary placed two men fully armed, at each 
hatch, then called the rest to the quarter-deck 
for a consultation. He was calm, cool, yet 
heartless and vindictive as ever. 

Without caring for the men already sacri- 
ficed, he seemed only anxious to save his vessel 
and as many of his mutinous victims as he 


254 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


might now be able to carry into port. For Duff 
a^nd Ralph he, even now, scarcely veiled his dis- 
like as he sat upon the hatch, binding his 
wounded head with a handkerchief. 

But before much was said, a sailor ran back 
crying: 

‘‘This way! This way! The fiends are after 
us again.” 


CHAPTEE XXIII. 


Adrift. 

Seizing their weapons, the wearied men ran 
forward to the forecastle, where the negroes 
had nearly cut another hole through the bulk- 
head separating the crew’s quarters from the 

hold. 

One of the main hatch guards was holding 
them at bay, and had managed to seize the im- 
plement with which they had gained their lib- 
erty, from the savage who happened to be using 
it last. It was part of an old hand saw, that 
had, by some neglect, been left unnoticed on 
the floor of the hold. 

Several shots drove back the blacks, then the 

hole, which was a small one, was nailed up and 
another guard stationed. 

Gary’s next move was to order the two sound 
boats lowered and attached by ropes to the 
side. He was impressed by this last effort of 


265 


266 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the blacks that the worst might happen, and 
that they had better be prepared. Once the 
horde of savages gained the decks, the vessel 
would afford no refuge to their hated oppres- 
sors. 

The night was somewhat advanced. In the 
horizon a few darker spaces denoted the pres- 
ence of clouds, though all above was clear. 

The Wanderer’s sails hung limp, unless now 
and then a feeble expansion caused by some de- 
sultory puff be excepted. Gary divided the re- 
mainder of the men into two watches, one of 
whom he caused to lie down on deck for a little 
rest, with their arms at their sides. 

Below, amid the darkness, a single light 
shone from the cabin. Some one of the blacks, 
evidently acquainted with the use of matches 
(through traders or missionaries, doubtless), 
had found a way of lighting the cabin lamp. 
Pandemonium reigned there. Inflamed by rum, 
furious efforts were made from time to time to 
burst through the hatches. 

Along towards morning, however, a certain 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


257 


degree of quiet began to prevail. Perhaps the 
negroes were growing weary. 

A light breeze had arisen that sent the 
schooner ahead. Gary had determined to make 
for the nearest port, provided they could hold 
out to reach it. He saw no chance to do aught 
to subdue and confine the blacks with his re- 
duced force. If they saved the vessel and their 
own lives, they would do more than some of 
them expected. 

One of the boats was chafing against the 
weather side of the ship. Gary directed Ealph 
to drop both boats astern and fasten one behind 
the other. 

The boy obeyed, climbing down into the first 
boat in order to attach the second to its stern. 
He made, as he thought, a half hitch of the 
painter, then, drawing the second boat close to 
the first, he stepped into it, and began bailing 
out the water that had filtered in through the 
seams shrunken by exposure to the sun on the 
schooner’s deck. 

As he worked away, thoughts of his mountain 

home intruded strangely, perhaps incongru- 
17 


258 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


ously, upon his mind. Looking eastward a nar- 
row rim of moon was protruding over the 
ocean’s rim. 

Something reminded him of the way it used 
to rise above “Old Peaky Top,” just back of the 
cabin on Hiawassee. He straightened himself 
to obtain a better view. A sharp report rang 
out behind him from the vessel, and he felt a 
numbness under his shoulder. 

“Keckon they must be trying to get out 
again,” he muttered, glancing at the ship’s 
stern. 

He was then sensible of a dizziness and a 
roaring in his ears. A black savage face was 
glaring upon him from the window of the cap- 
tain’s stateroom, from whence protruded the 
barrel of a rifle. After that his sight grew dim; 
something wet trickled down on one of his 
hands, and outward things became a blank. His 
last sensation was a comfortable kind of sleep- 
iness. 

When Ralph came to himself he was lying in 
the bottom of the boat with his head jammed 
uncomfortably under one of the thwarts. As 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


259 


he scrambled up, his first thought was of what 
the captain would say to his falling asleep in 
that way. But instead of rising, he stumbled 
and fell. Then he realized that it was morning 
and that he was unaccountably weak. Pulling 
himself up again with more care, he stared 
around for an instant, then sank back against 
the thwart. 

The Wanderer was nowhere to be seen. 

After another moment he pulled himself up 
on the seat, in order to assure himself that he 
was not dreaming. What his eyes had told him 
was a fact. 

He was alone in that little boat, with not a 
sail or other sign of man’s presence anywhere 
within view. The surprise held him mute and 
breathless at first, then he began to wonder how 
he came to be left in such a plight. 

His left arm felt stiff and sore. Looking 
down, he saw the blood had dried on his left 
hand, while under that shoulder something 
smarted with every movement. 

It came to him then. The report, the numb- 


260 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


ness, the fleeting glimpse of that savage face, 
and the gun barrel, were now accounted for. 

“While I was mooning away about grand- 
father and home, that fellow shot me. Lucky 
he didn’t strike closer. But how did I get loose?” 

Examination showed him the painter trailing 
idly in the water alongside. He must have 
made that half hitch carelessly. During his 
swoon it had worked loose. 

His friends on board had doubtless had their 
attention too much taken up by the blacks, to 
give heed to him. The whiffs of air had slowly 
swept the schooner out of sight and he had lain 
senseless until daylight. 

“I am surely in a bad fix,” he reflected. 
“Wounded — in an open boat — without an oar, 
or a bite to eat or drink.” 

He had read enough of the perils of the sea 
to comprehend the terrible possibilities of his 
situation, and at first his blood chilled and his 
courage sank. Resolute as he was by nature, 
there was a deadly difference between the lone- 
liness of his present condition and the solitude 
of his native mountains. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


261 


In the woods he was at home; he knew where 
to go to find people there — but here! In his 
weakened condition tears started to his eyes. 
But he soon dashed them away, and, rising, set 
about dressing his wound. 

He removed his jacket and shirt, and bathed 
the wound with ocean water, as he knew that 
salt was good to allay possible infiammation. 
The bullet had grazed his side just under the 
shoulder, making a painful though not a dan- 
gerous injury. 

“Lucky it didn’t lodge,” he thought, as he 
tore up his handkerchief and bound up the 
place by passing the bandage over his opposite 
shoulder. 

A good deal of blood had fiowed both down 
his arm and side. This accounted for his pres- 
ent weakness. 

After resuming his clothes, he sat down to 
consider the situation. 

There was a light breeze from the northeast, 
with a straggling fieece of clouds, expanding 
like a fan towards the zenith. Ealph knew that 
the appearance indicated more wind, but he de- 


262 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


termined not to borrow trouble from the future. 

A slow’, majestic heaving of the ocean, on 
which the yawl gently rose and fell was counter 
crossed by the shorter ripples stirred up by the 
light wind then blowing. The dead swell 
evinced the neighborhood of some previous gale. 

“I might as well search the lockers,” he said 
to himself. “There might be something eatable 
in them.” 

There was nothing to eat aboard; but in the 
locker at the stern he discovered a small keg 
filled with water, overlooked probably when the 
boat was unloaded, for it was the same craft in 
which the trip up the African river had been 
made. 

“That’s a good find,” he ejaculated. “Crickey! 
what is this?” 

He drew forth from under the bow a strip of 
canvas and an old rusty hatchet. The posses- 
sion of these articles raised his spirits for a 
time, so that he set to work to rig up a sort of 
jury mast and sail. There were three thwarts. 
From one of these he managed to split two 
pieces some six feet long without impairing its 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


263 


strength as a brace to stiffen the boat. He 
lashed the three together with a few bits of 
spun yarn from his pocket, making a mast near- 
ly ten feet long. 

Next he split from the other thwarts a piece 
or two for a boom, then he turned his attention 
to the sail. 

Part of the canvas he tore into strips, and by 
the help of these he manufactured a sort of lug 
sail of sufficient size to keep the boat steady 
in a seaway, and in running with a fair wind to 
make two or three miles an hour. 

To step and wedge the mast with the aid of 
the hatchet and more splinters from the 
thwarts, did not take long. The only thing that 
bothered him was the main sheet, or — to ex- 
plain — the rope which should hold the sail taut 
and trim. 

His eye happened to rest on the knot of the 
painter where it was fastened to a ring bolt at 
the bow. He drew the wet line aboard, untied 
the knot and soon had his main sheet fastened 
to the boom. 

There was a cleat near the tiller and Ealph, 


264 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


hauling in, brought the yawl a little up in the 
wind and soon had the craft under headway. 

‘‘By jolly!” he exclaimed, “but this isn’t so 
very bad, after all. If I only knew where to 
head now, I might strike the Cape Verdes. I 
suppose I might hit Africa if I went east long 
enough; that is, supposing I didn’t capsize or 
founder, or starve, or something. Heigho! How 
weak I feel. Believe I’ll take breakfast.” 

So he took up the keg and drank heartily, for 
his wound had made him slightly feverish. 

“I must touch it lighter than this,” he said as 
he put down the keg. “Lord only knows when 
or where I will get it filled again.” ’ 

As the sun came up, a fiaming red ball, the 
wind slowly increased. 

Ralph, though by no means experienced in 
boat sailing, had learned how to steer. The sail 
was too small and weakly fastened to render it 
liable to endanger the safety of the craft and 
for a time the interest aroused by the nov- 
elty of sailing by himself kept his spirits up. 

But in an hour or so he felt weary. The sea 
had slowly risen so that an occasional dash of 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


265 


water flew over the bow whenever he headed in 
the least to windward. 

“What is the use of tiring myself out?” he 
thought at last. “It don’t make any difference 
where I go, or whether I go at all.” 

So he unstepped his mast, stowed it in the 
boat’s bottom, and lay down on the sail. The 
sun dazzled him and he drew his hat over his 
eyes. 

Probably his wound and weakness made him 
drowsy, for he fell asleep. When he again 
awoke the sun was nearly overhead. The hot 
glare was stifling. His very clothing seemed to 
burn his flesh. He staggered to his feet and 
looked around the horizon wearily. 

Suddenly his eyes brightened and his whole 
figure became animated and eager. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


Ralph’s Sufferings. 

Low down in the northwestern horizon was a 
faint speck of white. Everywhere else the blue 
of the sky and ocean was unrelieved. The 
“mares’ tails” of clouds had disappeared and 
the sea was a gently heaving plain of glass. 

“A sail!” exclaimed the boy. “It must be a 
sail.” 

He hurriedly set up his mast again and hast- 
ened back to the tiller. But there was no wind ; 
the canvas hung limp, while the sun was broil- 
ing the paint on the little forward deck. 

“I don’t suppose they can see me,” thought 
he dejectedly. “It must be only their topsails 
that I see, and so small a boat as this would be 
invisible. Perhaps if they had a glass at the 
mast head, they might find me. Oh, if I only 
had a wind!” 

Refiection, however, convinced him that a 


266 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


267 


breeze would be as apt to carry the strange ves- 
sel off as to bring it nearer, so he was fain to sit 
still and idly watch the tiny dot of white, which 
meant so much, yet might do so little. 

The isolation of his position pressed upon 
him harder than ever. He felt, for a time, that 
if that elusive bit of white should disappear he 
would certainly break down. The heat and 
glare in the air added to his misery, and he took 
another drink from the keg, despite his previ- 
ous abstemious resolve. 

“I just can’t help drinking,” he said to him- 
self in justification of his act. “I reckon it’s the 
wound makes me burn so.” 

For a long while matters remained much the 
same, except that his hunger increased and his 
general state of discomfort grew to a point that 
rendered his exposure to the sun’s rays unbear- 
able. He would have taken his sail and made 
some sort of awning but for the faint hope that 
it might be seen. 

He crawled under the bow, where the deck 
sheltered the upper half of his person, and 
found some relief. From time to time he crept 


268 


'RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


out and, standing on the thwarts, watched the 
unchanging speck of white, with longings 
which at times were almost akin to despair. 

Towards the middle of the afternoon, after 
a longer stay beneath the deck than usual, he 
heard a slight thump against the side of the 
boat. Scrambling up, he saw that a light breeze 
had arisen, sending little ripples over the sea. 

The wind was fair towards the distant sail, 
and Ralph again stepped his mast and trimmed 
his sheet, while his heart beat fast. If he could 
only get near enough to the stranger to be 
recognized! 

But his progress was slow and many times 
the distant spot would disappear momentarily, 
sending painful thrills through his veins. Then, 
when it was visible once more, the sense of re- 
lief was almost as hard to bear, so greatly were 
his nerves wrought up. 

After a time it seemed to him that the sail 
was growing larger. At first he doubted, then 
became assured of that fact. 

He rose and shouted in sheer exultation. For 
a time the white spot increased in size until he 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


269 


felt that he would certainly be seen a moment 
or two later. But that longed-for moment did 
not come. 

At last he perceived that the stranger was 
sailing at right angles to his own course, which 
would naturally expose to his view a larger ex- 
panse of sail. Would he be able to forge far 
enough ahead to be recognized? 

The period of suspense was almost an agony; 
nor was the after conviction that the ship was 
slowly but surely leaving him, as she passed on 
her course, much more painful by comparison. 
But as long as she was in sight Ealph sailed on. 

He could not voluntarily give up even the 
last glimpse of what appeared to be the only 
link connecting him with his fellow creatures. 
But as the dot of white was finally lost to view, 
he sank to the boat’s bottom in despair, letting 
the sail flap listlessly and the tiller swing un- 
guided. 

“It is no use,” he faltered, as his eyes mo- 
mentarily filled under a sinking feeling of utter 
loneliness. “I might as well give up.” 

But paiu is at times a great reyiver, As hope 


270 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


dwindled, the irritation of his wound and the 
gnawing of his stomach forced their discomfort 
upon his attention. He drank again, and later 
on, again, with a persistent disregard of future 
consequences which only the overwhelming 
disconsolation of his situation could have in- 
spired. 

The wind stiffened and at last he was obliged 
to take down his sail, out of sheer lack of en- 
ergy to continue his battle with fate. He lay 
down under the bow for a long time. 

The pitching of the yawl increased. Finally 
a larger sea than usual sent nearly a barrel of 
water over the deck, that streamed down upon 
his legs. Fear roused him to action once more. 

He began bailing frantically with his hat, 
and soon had the boat dry again. As he re- 
mained aft, no more seas were shipped, though 
the wind was increasing, and by certain signs 
he felt that rougher weather might be immi- 
nent. Clouds were rising, and though he did not 
like their appearance, it was some relief when 
they shaded him from the now declining heat of 
the sun. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


271 


As night approached, the wild waste of wa- 
ters looked terribly stern and forbidding. Oc- 
casionally a distant breaking of some white 
capped wave would send his heart into his 
mouth, only to sink again despairingly. 

Just at sunset the great luminary peered 
gloriously forth. Torturing as was its power 
at midday, now it seemed to Ralph as if a friend 
were bidding him farewell. When the last of 
its golden surface had vanished, he felt as if 
that friend had departed, never to return, at 
least to him. 

For hours he sat after that, while a gloom as 
of death settled over the ocean, broken only by 
the plash of waves and the constant creaking 
of the yawl as it rolled and pitched in the 
trough of the sea. 

Once a shower of rain, accompanied by a 
slight flurry of wind, set him to trembling, as 
he remembered the fury of the squalls in those 
latitudes. He felt that his frail shallop would 
never live through one. 

Though in the tropics, he became chilly as the 
night advanced, while the pain of hunger was 


272 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


but partially eased by the drafts of water of 
which he still partook from time to time. He 
finally lay down in the stern and wrapped him- 
self in the sail. 

The pitching and rolling soon sent him to 
sleep, in a merciful relief to the gnawing sense 
of misery that now never left his mind while 
awake. 

A ship’s yawl, being both broad and deep, is 
one of the safest of small boats in a seaway. 
Therefore Ralph passed the hours in temporary 
security while unconscious. Unless a gale 
should rise, there was little danger of his 
craft’s swamping, nor, except from hunger, was 
his physical situation any worse than during 
the day. 

The most appalling thing connected with 
such a position was the feelings which it must 
necessarily arouse, and until day Ralph was 
exempted from these. 

When he rubbed his eyes at dawn he lay there 
dreading to rise. The loneliness of the sea re- 
newed its terrors at once, and he feared to look 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


273 


upon a scene of which he was the sole living ele- 
ment. 

“I’m getting to be a regular baby,” he said 
aloud. “I wonder what grandfather would say 
could he see me now. I am at least away from 
that old feud, if I never was before. 

This allusion led him into a reverie upon the 
strangeness of the fate that had led him half 
across the world in order to free himself from a 
senseless quarrel, and to be pursued by it to an 
extent that had left him free from its influence 
only when he was facing death in his present 
forlorn condition. 

He had been sent to Shard, whom he should 
have avoided as a relative of the Vaughn fac- 
tion. Shard had sent him to Gary, while Gary, 
five thousand miles away, was wreaking upon 
the boy all the hatred inspired by the haters of 
his family far back in the Southern mountains. 

At last he raised his head and peered out 
upon the watery waste. As his gaze swept from 
one side to the other an exclamation of amaze- 
ment dropped from his lips and he sprang to his 
feet. 

18 


274 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


Scarcely a quarter of a mile away was the 
Wanderer, with her sails all spread and flap- 
ping idly from side to side as she rolled gently 
upon the dead swell of the sea. The wind had 
died away and the slaver lay between the yawl 
and the eastern dawn, a dim yet recognizable 
bulk. Her dark, graceful proportions were not 
to be mistaken. 

“This beats the nation!” was Kalph’s next 
ejaculation. “This is what one might call pure 
luck. Now if I only had a pair of oars.” 

Not having any, he tried his sail, but found 
the attempt useless, and he was compelled to 
sit there thrilling with impatience to be aboard 
once more. Finally, as he was about to rise and 
shout, he noticed something white being waved 
from one of the stern windows. 

While he was puzzling his brain over the 
meaning of this, a line of black heads appeared 
above the bulwarks, and sundry black, naked 
forms ran up the rigging. At the same time a 
chorus of barbaric yells rang out, that chilled 
the boy’s blood, even at that distance. 

“I wonder if the blacks have got possession 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


275 


of the ship at last,” and with the thought his 
heart sank as he realized the certain death to 
all in case such a thing had taken place. “If 
this be so, they have undoubtedly killed every 
white aboard. 

Ralph’s situation now became doubly trying. 
To venture to board the schooner might prove 
his destruction. To remain in the yawl was to 
court a lingering and terrible death. 

Already the pangs of hunger were almost un- 
endurable. He drank from the keg, then meas- 
ured the contents with a splinter. It was half 
empty. Twenty-four more hours of this and 
then 

“Come what will,” he resolved, “I shall try to 
board the vessel. One may as well die one way 
as another.” 

After some reflection he took apart his mast 
and used the six foot strips as oars, finding that 
he made a little progress, though the task was 
fatiguing and the movement exasperatingly 
slow. 

Meanwhile the noise on the Wanderer grew 
hideous. The idle, untrimmed manner in which 


276 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the sails swung, was a fearful indication that 
the untrained negroes were masters. When 
within two hundred yards he took a careful 
survey. The whole deck and the lower rigging 
were alive with blacks shouting, gesticulating, 
acting more like lunatics than sane beings. 

Something at the stern window again at- 
tracted his notice. It was a handkerchief being 
waved. He answered the signal by waving his 
hat. Then to Kalph’s surprise and delight a 
white face was cautiously protruded. 

“I’ll help that man off or die for it,” was his 
next thought as he bent once more to the task 
of rowing. 

Had not the ocean been calm he would have 
made no headway. As it was, when he drew 
up some thirty yards from the schooner’s stern, 
he was for the moment completely exhausted. 

Turning round, he recognized with joy the 
pale blood-stained face at the window. 

“In heaven’s name!” cried the boy. “What 
has happened? Are any more of you alive? 


CHAPTER XXV. 


The Second Mate’s Story. 

The face at the window was that of Jacob 
Duff, the second mate. He shook his head in a 
melancholy way and beckoned with his hand. 

“Come a little closer. The blacks are drunk 
and have exhausted their ammunition. The 
magazine is in the lower hold, double locked 
and they haven’t found it yet.” 

Ralph slowly pulled under the stern where 
he would be protected from missiles. Over his 
head was a screaming crowd of savages who, 
however, confined themselves to unintelligible 
threats. 

The other boat was gone. Duff, leaning out, 
motioned with his hand. 

“There is no time for explanations now,” said 
he. “Let us get away from here while those de- 
mons are too drunk to know how to hinder us. 
Heavens, but what a time we’ve had!” 


277 


278 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


While speaking he handed out a pair of oars, 
a bag of ship’s biscuit, and a breaker of water. 

Meantime the negroes evidently discovered 
that the boy was communicating with some one 
on board. The cries and uproar redoubled. The 
noise of a crowd surging down the companion- 
way and into the main cabin could be heard. 
Then came a tremendous crash against the door 
of the stateroom. 

“Hurry up!” exclaimed Duff coolly, handing 
out the things all in a heap and scrambling to 
get through the small aperture himself. “I 
braced the door, but they are battering it down. 
Quick, Ralph, pull me through by the arms.” 

The boy was none too swift. Tugging with 
might and main, he dragged the mate through 
and both fell heavily to the bottom of the yawl, 
nearly capsizing the craft, just as the state- 
room door gave way. 

A stream of frantic blacks swarmed into the 
little apartment, one of whom, thrusting his 
hideous face out at the window, was uncere- 
moniously pushed through by his comrades. He 
fell across the gunwale of the boat and was 




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“Quick, Ralph, pull me through by the arms 



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RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


279 


shoved overboard bj Duff, while Ralph, seizing 
an oar, placed an end against the schooner’s 
stern-post and threw all his waning strength 
upon it, sending the yawl out from under the 
shelter of the ship. 

When the negroes saw two whites instead of 
one they appeared beside themselves with rage. 
A few missiles were thrown; among other arti- 
cles a Winchester, which the boy strove in vain 
to reach as it rebounded from the boat’s bow 
into the sea. Duff was struck with a marlin- 
spike, but he still clung to the oar he was try- 
ing to use. Another black plunged through 
the window into the water, while several threw 
themselves from the deck and began swim- 
ming towards the boat. 

Ralph noticed that Duff could not stand. He 
took both oars, and, notwithstanding his weak 
condition, soon placed the boat beyond the 
reach of pursuit. 

The blacks, realizing this, turned and were 
swimming back to the schooner, when one of 
them rose half his length from the water, send- 
ing forth a piercing cry of agony. Then he was 


280 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


suddenly jerked beneath the waves, as if by 
some powerful though unseen agency. 

“What did that?” exclaimed Ralph, horror 
stricken. 

“Sharks,” returned Duff sententiously, point- 
ing to several dark pointed fins that now ap- 
peared, all making for the schooner. “The ras- 
cals are never far away from a ship in these lat- 
itudes.” 

“This. is horrible!” exclaimed the lad, pulling 
on one oar to turn the boat round. 

“What are you doing?” demanded Duff. 

“I am going to try and save some of those 
niggers. I know they are bad; but we made 
them so. I can’t stand it, I tell you, to see them 
eaten up in that way. Look!” 

There came another shriek, and a second trail 
of blood rose to the surface of the sea as an- 
other victim was dragged beneath. 

“I know,” replied Duff. “But — self preserva- 
tion first. Look there, will you!” 

Regardless of their screaming comrades who 
were trying to reach the ship, the blacks on- 
board were striving to turn the big Long Tom 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


281 


amidships so as to bring it to bear upon the 
yawl. 

“That cannon is loaded — with slugs and scrap 
iron. Captain had it done in order to sweep the 
decks, if necessary. But they gave us no 
chance and the load is in it yet. Give me an 
oar. Pull now — for your life! Lucky it is they 
don’t know much about sighting a gun.” 

Suiting his action to his words the mate lit- 
erally forced the lad to obey. Other cries 
sounded, and Ralph caught a glimpse of two or 
three scrambling on board again by the aid of 
a rope that happened to hang over the side. 

His strength was nearly gone, and only an in- 
tense resolution kept him to his task at the oar. 
Duff, behind Ralph, also pulled away, though 
the strain caused him to groan now and then. 

“Are you hurt?” asked the boy as they drew 
rapidly away from the now dreaded ship. 

“Leg broke. Shot below the knee. Hist! 
They are going to try it now.” 

A large negro was hastening from the cook’s 
galley with a flaming brand. The instant of 
suspense that followed was awful. A bright 


282 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


flash followed, and as the accompanying roar 
met their ears a harsh spattering and hissing 
beyond relieved their anxiety immensely. 

Not a thing touched the boat or its occupants. 

“Overshot — by thunder!” cried Duff with an 
exulting whoop, that ended in a groan of pain. 
“We are all right now; the beggars can never 
reload. They don’t know how, and be hanged 
to ’em!” 

After that, while resting, Ralph briefly re- 
lated his own adventures, though touching 
lightly upon his suffering for food and the pain 
of his wound. 

“You’ve had a time of it, sure,” replied Duff. 
“Yet it was lucky for you and me both that you 
parted company with us as you did. Ah! ’twas 
a very trying day yesterday and a fearful time 
last night. Eat a bite, lad. I can’t till I’ve tried 
to do something for my leg.” 

So Ralph fell to on the bag of biscuit and the 
keg of water, while Duff bathed and bound up 
his leg as best he could. The bone had been 
fractured just above the ankle by a bullet. 

Fortunately it was an easy though painful 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


283 


matter to straighten the limb, as nothing had 
been unjointed. A spare shirt and some of the 
canvas sufficed to keep the bone in place after a 
fashion. As Duff said grimly: 

“It will do until we’re picked up; and if we 
ain’t picked up, it will do anyhow.” 

Ralph, after eating, dressed his own wound, 
and the two made themselves as comfortable 
as possible under the circumstances. The mate’s 
account of what happened after Ralph’s drift- 
ing away was in substance as follows. 

Things remained tolerably quiet for several 
hours after the defeat of the attempt on the 
part of the blacks to gain the deck by way of 
the forecastle. It was concluded that the ne- 
groes were sleeping off the effect of the rum 
they must have taken. As most of the water 
was below, they probably quenched their thirst 
without stint. 

Meanwhile, on deck things looked more blue 
than ever. The whites were without provisions, 
nearly everything in that line being in the store 
rooms below. A large breaker of water was on 


284 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


tap in the waist, which, with some ship’s bis- 
cuits, formed their only diet that morning. 

No sail was sighted all that day. Ralph’s ab- 
sence was detected only when it was found that 
one of the boats was gone. Gary swore some 
at the loss of the last, but seemed relieved rath- 
er than otherwise over the fate of the boy. 

“He’s gone and a good riddance,” said he. 
“We’re short of help, but we can stand the loss 
of the cub better than that of the boat.” 

During the day the blacks below threw over- 
board the bodies of the slain, having no fire 
wherewith to indulge their cannibalistic tastes. 
One of the wounded seamen died and was con- 
signed to the deep by his desperate comrades. 

The hours wore on until the strain of anxiety 
lest the blacks should fire the ship, or renew 
their assaults, grew unendurable. Some pro- 
posed a desperate charge down the gangway 
with cutlasses and loaded rifles. Could they 
once force the blacks into the main hold, the 
howitzer might again be trained on them. One 
fatal discharge, said these bolder ones, would 
cow the negroes into submission. 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


285 


But Gary, who was no coward, would not al- 
low any such rashness. What could seven men 
do against a hundred? The negroes now had 
a few weapons; they had all the ammunition 
but what was in the magazines of the Win- 
chesters. 

“We must wait, keep cool, and watch for a 
sail,” said the captain. “In rescue and in keep- 
ing these beggars below decks lies our hope.” 

“What will we do when our grub gives out?” 
asked some one. 

_^Die like men when the time comes, I hope,” 
replied Gary, with grim determination. 

He was as game as he was heartless and 
cruel. But later on one of the men found a 
demijohn of liquor in the cook’s pantry. Neb, 
thoroughly cowed by his uncivilized brethren 
below, had deserted his post and was in hiding 
somewhere. The liquor was secretly hidden 
away, and the men began drinking. 

By the time Gary found out what was up, 
every one but himself and Duff was recklessly 
intoxicated. He made a search for the stuff, 


286 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


but was recalled by another effort of the blacks 
to force open one of the hatches. 

The attempt was foiled, but night had fallen 
before Gary found where the liquor was hidden. 
He promptly broke the demijohn, and was 
knocked down thereupon by one of the drunken 
sailors. This led to a general melee on the 
quarter deck, where the row began. 

The forecastle was entirely deserted by the 
men, who were maddened by the destruction of 
their liquor. Duff used his efforts to part them, 
but growing uneasy over the unguarded state 
of the ship, he started to go forward. 

He had hardly reached the main deck when 
he saw a black form leaping out of the fore- 
castle. The blacks, taking advantage of the 
fight overhead, and the absence of a guard, had 
battered down the bulkhead between the main 
hold and the sailors’ sleeping quarters with the 
very howitzer which had been mounted below 
for their subjection. 

Duff raised the alarm, but it was too late. 
Scores of negroes poured upon the decks, now 
dimly lighted by ship’s lanterns, and fell upon 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 287 

their oppressors with a fury intensified by rum 
and a sense of crnelties that had been' infiicted 
upon them when bound and helpless. 

They had armed themselves with knives, 
pieces of furniture converted into clubs — any- 
thing that could be had. Those who had Win- 
chesters opened a wild though almost useless 
fire on the whites, then clubbed their guns. 

One ball did indeed strike the second mate, 
and another put out the two lanterns, leav- 
ing the after part of the ship in darkness. But 
the terrible conflict was over soon. 

The last Duff saw of Gary he was backed 
against the main mast defending himself. One 
arm hung useless, as he faced a circle of savage, 
merciless faces. Then one of the negroes felled 
the captain from behind, and a shower of blows 
was rained npon his prostrate fignre. 

Dnff, who had done his part during the fight- 
ing, managed to make his way to the quarter 
deck by striking down a negro or two who op- 
posed him. It was then that he was shot. 

Realizing that all was over, and determined 
to sell his life as dearly as possible, he limped 


288 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


to the stern, and awaited his fate. As if by an 
inspiration, he thought of his stateroom which, 
as far as he knew, might have remained locked 
after he had abandoned it upon the first break- 
ing forth of the blacks. 

For the moment he was unobserved in the 
darkness that now reigned aft. The negroes 
had just brought forth Neb’s body, and were 
manifesting their disapproval of his associa- 
tion with the whites by beating and kicking the 
inanimate clay. 

Duff, despite the pain of his fractured limb, 
lowered himself by a rope to the still open win- 
dow, and managed to pull himself through into 
his stateroom, and drag his body to his berth. 
Here the agony of his wound overcame him, and 
he fell into a deep swoon. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


Hard Times. 

When the second mate revived there were 
sounds of high rejoicing overhead. He saw that 
the fastenings of his door had not been dis- 
turbed. 

After dressing his wound as best he could, 
he set about securing the best possible means 
of prolonging and perhaps saving his life. If 
the drink-crazed blacks could be kept out of his 
stateroom, it might be that he would not be mo- 
lested until some passing vessel, noting the un- 
seaman-like appearance and maneuvers of the 
Wanderer would come to his rescue. 

The blacks evidently did not know of his 
whereabouts, but considered that all of their 
whilom masters had been put to death. But 
the chance for ultimate safety was slight, he 
felt. 

When the schooner might be fired or dis- 
19 


289 


280 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


mantled in a gale, through ignorance, he knew 
not, but he realized that the negroes were li- 
able to commit almost any blunder. Again, the 
passing ships might not stop. 

He also must have something to eat and 
drink, his wound rendering him especially 
thirsty. 

Limping to the door he listened long and in- 
tently. As far as he could tell, the entire crowd 
of blacks were on deck, carousing over their vic- 
tory and enjoying the fresh air of which they 
so long had been deprived. 

He unlocked and peered through the door. 
Then he quickly slipped into the cabin and re- 
connoitered. All seemed to be quiet. 

Without wasting time he went into the store 
rooms, secured a bag of biscuit and filled a 
breaker with water from one of the butts. Car- 
rying these into his room he returned and took 
a pair of spare oars wherewith to brace his door. 

The confusion and waste wrought by the 
blacks were extreme. Bread, meat, and veget- 
ables lay upon the floor. Boxes and barrels were 
broken open and their contents recklessly 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


291 


thrown about. The rum barrel had been con- 
veyed to the deck. 

Overhead Duff could hear barbaric dancing, 
whooping and singing. A noise at the head of 
the companion-way caused him to retreat hast- 
ily to his own room, where he softly locked the 
door and used both oars as braces. For the 
present he was probably safe, as his presence 
had not yet been discovered. 

All that day the negroes gave themselves 
over to eating and drinking. The sails swuug 
idly in the passing breezes, and as the weather 
was not boisterous the schooner fared very 
well. 

Duff slept, thought, and nursed his wound. At 
times he would look from his little window for 
a sail, and when night came he curled down in 
his bunk so snugly, that it seemed at times as 
if things were going on as usual before the mu- 
tiny. When he looked out in the morning at 
daylight the first object he saw was the yawl. 

At first he thought it might be the second 
boat which had been loosened somehow during 
the fierce battle on deck. But when Ralph rose 


292 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


and looked around, the mate recognized the lad 
and waved his handkerchief. 

He was not a little astonished at the boy’s 
re-appearance, having heard the shot which 
wounded Ralph, and having given both lad and 
yawl up for lost. 

“Well now,” remarked Ralph, on the conclu- 
sion of the story, “what are we to do?” 

“When the sun gets well up, we will take an 
observation and make a reckoning. Then we’ll 
lay our course for the nearest land. Perhaps 
we may be picked up — perhaps we won’t be. 
Whatever happens we will make the grub and 
water go as far as possible, keep a stiff lip, and 
trust to Providence.” 

While speaking Duff drew forth from the 
bundle of bedding he had thrown out, a leather 
bag. From this he produced a compass and a 
sextant. 

“Now, lad,” said he, “let us enlarge this here 
sail a bit, and get ready to do some traveling 
when the breeze comes.” 

For an hour or two both man and boy worked 
until they had the yawl in as good trim as pos- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


293 


sible. Then the mate took an observation by 
the sun, cast a reckoning, and informed Ralph 
that as far as his knowledge of geography 
would serve, they were some two hundred miles 
from the Cape Verdes. 

“We have a fair wind, Ralph, so square away 
west by nor’west, and leave this bloody slaver 
to her fate. I’m sorry for those niggers, ,for bad 
as they treated us, we got ’em in the fix they’re 
in. If we speak a vessel we can go back.” 

“Mebbe they won’t want to,” suggested 
Ralph. 

“Salvage,” returned Duff briefly. “There’s 
money in it, you see. Men will do about any- 
thing for money enough.” 

For the next two days they kept their course 
and took turn about in sailing. As the last 
glimpse of the slaver faded into nothingness, 
both felt relieved. They nursed their wounds 
and endured their sufferings and privations as 
best they could. 

The third day sundry signs betokening a 
storm lent an anxious expression to Duff’s face, 
that soon transferred itself to Ralph’s. 


294 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


The wind stiffened gradually into half a gale 
and night closed in, around an ominous and 
threatening horizon. Though worn and wearied, 
the mate never gave up the tiller all during that 
black and perilous siege of darkness. 

Ralph bailed and held the main sheet. When 
the squalls came he slackened up or drew in 
around the cleat as became necessary. 

The scene was intensely depressing, hopeless, 
terrible. Hardly a word was spoken save in ref- 
erence to the management of the boat. 

Morning found them greatly exhausted and 
barely able to keep their small craft from 
broaching to. Had this happened they would 
have foundered undoubtedly. 

The clouds seemed to press the ocean, con- 
fining the view to less than half a mile in any di- 
rection. The sea was a tumbling mass of gray, 
seething billows, that tossed the yawl at pleas- 
ure hither and thither, the rag of sail barely 
sufficing to keep her head to windward. 

Ralph had endured the terrors of the night 
without a murmur. But he had been aboard 
the yawl now about five days on a diet of bread 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


295 


and water. Nature was giving way under the 
strain. 

As he gazed around on the angry scene, where 
no sign of relenting on the part of the storm 
was evident, he turned to Duff and fixed on him 
a hopeless look. 

“1 don’t think I can stand it much longer, sir,” 
he said. 

The mate’s plight was almost as bad; indeed 
his wound was worse than Ralph’s. But he was 
tougher; he had been shipwrecked twice pre- 
viously. 

^Tjad,” he replied, somewhat sternly, ^^never 
give up as long as you can bat an eye. That’s 
my doctrine.” 

And he looked it; so did Ralph a moment 
later, nor did the boy complain again. 

All that weary day they fought a losing bat- 
tle against wind and wave, and when night 
once more closed in without any sign of clear- 
ing weather, the hearts of both were at the low- 
est ebb of hope. Had the gale increased they 
must inevitably have been swamped. 

Along about two bells in the first night watch 


296 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


the mate, who had never uttered one word of 
complaint, groaned aloud. 

“Give — me — water,” he faltered. “I — I ” 

And he sank forward against Kalph, and from 
there to the boat’s bottom, where he lay appar- 
ently insensible from exhaustion and pain. 

The boy seized the tiller, or the yawl, broach- 
ing, would have shipped a fatal sea. There was 
nothing to do but to hold to his post; so after 
throwing a blanket over Duff he turned his at- 
tention to the boat, keeping the shred of sail 
taut, and the bow as much to windward as pos- 
sible. 

Later on he nodded, but found on awaking 
that the wind was decreasing. This cheered 
him into renewed activity for a time, then he 
fell asleep again, and so continued, with brief 
interludes of wakefulness, until he felt himself 
sinking from the seat he had held so long. Once 
he fancied he caught a gleam of stars; and it 
seemed that a stillness was pervading the air 
as the whistle of the wind died into melancholy 
murmurings. After that he remembered noth- 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


297 


ing more until a voice penetrated his brain like 
a trump of doom. 

He started up, but fell back weakly. The 
mate was steering and half lying on the bottom 
of the boat, while shading his eyes with one 
hand as he stared over the gunwale. 

“Rouse up a bit, lad!” cried Duff, his tones 
quivering with excitement and weakness. “It’s 
a sail — a sail!” 

Ralph struggled to his knees and beheld a 
large ship bearing down upon them scarcely 
half a mile away. The sun was up, and the sky 
bright and fair, with a ragged patch of cloud 
here and there. 

“Hurray!” he cried weakly, then his head 
swam, and he fell back motionless. 

Duff held grimly to his post, even after con- 
sciousness had departed. The rescuing party 
found him with head drooped upon his arm, 
while his nerveless fingers still rested on the 
tiller. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


Uncle Gideon. 

The day was well spent when Ralph again 
came to his senses. He raised his head and 
looked about in a half stupefied wondering way. 

The lad was in a small, but well lighted state- 
room, plainly yet comfortably furnished. A 
grave looking, middle aged man was feeling his 
pulse, while a sailor, neatly dressed in a blue 
jacket and white duck trousers, stood behind 
with a towel over his arm and a bowl of broth in 
his hand. 

The other was in a navy blue uniform. The 
gold lace on his cap and the shoulder straps be- 
tokened one in authority. Outside, the sun was 
shining brightly, while a sound of measured 
tramping and an occasional order in command- 
ing tones, indicated something of military pre- 
cision in the surroundings. 


298 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES, 


299 


^ Where am I?” asked Ralph, noticing that 
his hands were rather white and wasted. 

^^You are on the United States sloop of war, 
the Adams, homeward bound,” replied the of- 
ficer. ^^You were picked up six days ago, and 
have been ill ever since. I am the ship^s sur- 
geon.” 

‘^Is— is ” 

^^Yes, Mr. Duff is well,” said Dr. Barker, an- 
ticipating the boy’s inquiry; ^^that is except his 
leg, which is progressing finely. You must not 
talk much — yet. We ran upon the Wanderer 
after picking you up. Duff related his own ad- 
ventures and yours, and gave us his reckoning, 
taken just after you and he left her. We found 
her after a two days’ search, partially dis- 
masted, and the blacks thoroughly cowed by 
the gale. We sent her to St. Paul be Loando, 
where she will be appraised and sold. 

^^It is likely that your share and Mr. Duff’s 
of the prize money will be considerable, as but 
for you two we would not have made the cap- 
ture. As you were deceived when shipping on 
her as to the object of her trip, you can not be 


300 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


held responsible for the crime committed by 
her captain and owner in violating the law 
against slave trading. The negroes of course 
will be set free.” 

The door here opened and Duff entered on 
crutches, followed by a tall, sandy whiskered of- 
ficer, who went up to Kalph at once. 

‘‘Well, nephew,” said he in a cordial, hearty 
tone, “how are you? Well enough to stand a 
stiff surprise?” 

Ralph wondered weakly, but his perplexity 
ended in a smile. It seemed as if every one was 
very cordial and that his lines were falling in 
pleasant places at last. 

He greeted Duff eagerly and looked at the two 
naval men inquiringly, remembering the sur- 
geon’s warning as to talking. 

“This is Chief Quartermaster Gideon Grang- 
er, Ralph,” said Duff. “Now do you know who 
he is?” 

“Gideon Granger was my father’s half broth- 
er,” replied the lad at once. “He left home be- 
fore I was born. Grandfather thought he went 
to Texas, but as he never heard from him, we 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


301 


all supposed he was dead. So — you are — Uncle 
Gid.” 

“Yes, my lad,” said Granger. “You see your 
grandfather and I didn’t get on together some- 
how, so one day I tripped anchor and made sail, 
as I thought, for the West; but the sight of salt 
water was too much for me. I drifted into a 
sailor’s life, got into the navy, was promoted 
during the war, and — here I am. 

“Meeting up with you, however, is about the 
strangest streak of luck I have happened with 
yet. But I am none the less glad to fall in with 
one of my own kin. You’re as welcome to me, 
lad, as I reckon we were to you and Duff, the 
morning we sighted you off the Cape Verdes. 
When he told me who you were I was all broke 
up. You were pretty well done for.” 

“I guess I must have given you some trouble 
since then,” returned Ralph, reaching for his 
uncle’s hand. “We did have rather a tough 
time in that old boat.” 

“You did that. As soon as you were hoisted 
aboard. Dr. Barker pronounced you down with 
coast fever. That trip up the river Duff tells 


302 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


me about, probably planted the seeds, and ex- 
posure did the rest — eh. Doc.” 

The surgeon nodded, then the chief qnarter- 
master added: “But we will be at Norfolk in 
a week, then I’ll apply for shore leave and you 
and I will go down and see the old man.” 

“He won’t want to see me,” remarked Ralph, 
who then briefly related the circumstances un- 
der which he had been driven from home, his 
encounter with Shard, and the latter’s mode 
of placing him at Gary’s mercy. 

The old warrant officer laughed over the silly 
feud, while sympathizing with the boy over its 
sad results. 

“You shall take me home,” he concluded. “Fa- 
ther will forgive us both and we’ll liven the 
old gent up a bit. Perhaps we can get him 
down where he can taste a whiff of salt air, 
especially if I make a man-’o-war’s man out of 
his grandson.” 

The doctor now interposed, and said that 
Ralph had talked, and been talked to, enough 
that day. So the boy was left to another re- 


RALPH GRANGER'S FORTUNES. 


303 


freshing sleep, after enjoying his bowl of 
chicken broth. 

Two days later he was out on deck, where 
the neatness, precision, and martial splendor of 
everything he saw, quite captivated his young 
imagination. When they entered the harbor at 
Fortress Monroe and salutes were fired, yards 
manned, and fiags dipped by the Adams and the 
friendly foreign war ships anchored there, 
Ralph felt more than ever that his vocation was 
that of a sailor. 

True to his word. Uncle Gideon soon started 
with his nephew for the old mountain home 
that he had not seen for more than thirty years. 
When Ralph stood aside, and the stern old man 
gazed upon his first born, the meeting and rec- 
ognition were touching in the extreme. 

Ralph was forgiven for outliving the feud, 
and the final result was that son and grandson 
carried the lonely old man with them back to 
Norfolk, where he was made comfortable in the 
^^Old People’s Home,” his own means, supple- 
mented by Gideon’s savings, paying all ex' 
penses. 


304 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


One day the quartermaster came into their 
boarding-house, and on entering Ralph’s room 
slapped the lad heartily on the back. 

“I’ve fixed it, nephew,” said he jovially. “My 
ship sails in three days, and I was afraid I 
might not pull you through in time. But our 
captain gave us a lift. You know he stands in 
with some of the big bugs in the navy depart- 
ment at Washington. 

“What!” exclaimed Ralph enthusiastically, 
his eyes glowing, “am I really to get a berth on 
the training ship as a naval apprentice?” 

“Better than that. When I made known that 
your share of the Wanderer prize money, and 
what I could spare would pay your way, captain 
wrote to his friend at Washington, and the up- 
shot of it all is you’re to go to Annapolis. Think 
of that ! One year to prepare for your examina- 
tion — four years as a cadet — then an ensign. 
Ah, lad! If I’d had your chance at your age I 
might have been at least a lieutenant. During 
the war there was more than one such rose to 
be commodore. But bear in mind : I can renew 
my youth in watching you. So bear a hand, lad, 


RALPH GRANGER’S FORTUNES. 


305 


and do your best. You may live to walk your 
own quarter-deck yet.” 

“If I do,” replied Kalph, seizing his uncle’s 
hard and weather beaten hand, “it will all be 
owing to you.” 

The old veteran grinned, then seemed to re- 
member something. 

“Put on your hat, lad,” said he. “We will 
lay a course for the old man over at the Home. 
You must ask him if fighting for Uncle Sam on 
sea isn’t better than bushwhacking your neigh- 
bors in the mountains.” 

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